TY - JOUR TI - Engaging self-management with a low back pain app in manual labor workers DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-4gc3-n114 PY - 2020 AB - Background: Chronic low back pain is an extremely common condition in an occupational health setting. Among manual labor workers, chronic non-specific LBP can lead to loss of function, loss of income, and fear-avoidance behavior. Aim: The aim of this project was to use electronic mobile application to assist manual labor workers with chronic back pain to increase their functional levels and to decrease illness behavior. Methodology: This pilot project used a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design. Manual labor workers with non-specific low back pain were recruited from a kitchen cabinetry manufacturing company. The four-week intervention included utilization of a de-novo created mobile application that contained educational materials and links to various exercise routines. The degree of physical disability and fear avoidance beliefs were measured pre and post intervention by using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs questionnaire (FABQ) respectively. Results: Six participants participated in this study. All participants were males with a prolonged duration of low back pain (almost 5 years). There was a non-significant decrease in the physical disability (p = 0.068) score and a significant reduction in the avoidance beliefs (p = 0.027) score. Implications: Electronic mobile applications should be included in the treatment management plans to reduce avoidance behaviors. Future research should focus on the role of applications on reduction of physical disabilities and preventing progression to chronic low back pain. KW - Low back pain KW - Self-management KW - Mobile health applications KW - Post-Master's DNP Practice LA - English ER -