OAR@UM Collection:

Assessing the validity, reliability and usability of a newly developed smartphone based application in measuring chronic low back pain

Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Assessing the validity, reliability and usability of a newly developed smartphone based application in measuring chronic low back pain Abstract: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is considered to be one of the biggest problems for public health systems in the western world. Physiotherapists rely on self- reporting from the patient to obtain the necessary information which is then transcribed into paper format. Though paper- based tools are valid, they present limitations as patients have to retrospectively remember their pain episodes. This can make the recorded information inaccurate. Mobile phone applications can help to avoid such problems. However studies on such technologies showed an apparent lack of user, clinician, or health service engagement in their development and minimal research on their effectiveness. The aim of the study was to investigate whether a newly developed application could be valid, reliable and usable. CLBP patients that were being treated by a physiotherapist at a musculoskeletal outpatient department were chosen as the study population. An application, called “Pain in the App”, was developed for this study. This application was transferred onto the participants’ smartphone for the 30 day collection period. Following data collection, a modified questionnaire was distributed to the participants. Statistical analysis showed that the application is valid when compared to the numerical rating scale (NRS) (p- value <0.001). Results also suggest that the application is capable of recording data in a reliable and consistent manner (p- value <0.001) and that the usability, the design elements adopted and the quality of clinical content were likened by the participants (pvalue 0.729). The results obtained show a great potential of smartphone applications in healthcare and a satisfactory proof- of- concept. Description: B.SC.(HONS)PHYSIOTHERAPY

The validity, reliability and usability of a newly developed smartphone based application to assess acute musculoskeletal knee pain

Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Title: The validity, reliability and usability of a newly developed smartphone based application to assess acute musculoskeletal knee pain Abstract: Pain assessment is one of the most important precursors for optimal pain management. Hence, optimising pain assessment becomes a necessity in health care. Smartphone applications may be developed to assess the main parameters of pain. Therefore, this study assessed the validity, reliability and usability of a newly developed pain application called ‘Pain in the App’. This smartphone application was tested on 13 patients with acute musculoskeletal knee pain. Following one month of data collection, the data was analysed by comparing it with the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) which is the gold standard for pain intensity. Both the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient found compliance between the NRS and the data entered in the application, thus confirming concurrent validity. A good level of inter-rater reliability was also found for most participants as shown by the Kruskal-Wallis test. Through a questionnaire, ‘Pain in the App’ was assessed for usability where the Independent Samples T-test showed that participants gave the application high scores for usability, design and quality of content. In conclusion, this study targeted the lack of evidence related to smartphone based applications that assess pain. It has shed light on the use of such applications particularly for the management of acute pain. Moreover, this study also identified that further research is required in this field and provided recommendations for future studies with the ultimate aim to eliminate all the barriers for pain assessment. Description: B.SC.(HONS)PHYSIOTHERAPY

The prevalence of shoulder overuse injuries in handball players : a local study

Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Title: The prevalence of shoulder overuse injuries in handball players : a local study Abstract: Background: Handball is an overhead throwing sport and athletes have a greater predisposition of developing overuse shoulder injuries. Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit (GIRD) is a 20° lag of shoulder internal rotation that is known to be a precursor to overuse shoulder injuries. Purpose: This study was aimed at examining the prevalence of shoulder overuse injuries in Maltese handball players. It aimed to discover the risks of developing shoulder overuse injuries and to discover any associations with factors such as BMI, age, gender, training sessions per week, years of training level of play, position of play practice of other sport. Study Design: A positivist approach was chosen to test this anthropometric study. Methods: Questionnaires were used to collect data from all active handball players for season 2014/2015. The data collected included age, gender, contact details, history of shoulder surgeries, injuries and pain in the past, seasons playing handball, position of play, level of play, involvement in another sport, minutes of training per week and arm dominance. A physical examination was carried out on 46 handball players (those who met the inclusion criteria) to confirm the data collected through the questionnaire, and to measure weight and height. Medial and Lateral rotation of both arms were measured using a bubble inclinometer with the athlete in supine, shoulder abducted to 90° and elbow flexed to 90° in the plane of the scapula. SPSS® was used to generate results. Results: There was a significant difference in GIRD on the dominant arm in different gender groups (t = 3.168 p < 0.001) and athletes who have been playing for longer than others (t = 2.178 p < 0.035). There was also a significant difference in GIRD on the nondominant arm in athletes who play in different positions (f = 2.961 p < 0.043). There was no significant difference in GIRD in other categories. Conclusion: Male athletes with a longer career in handball and those athletes who play with pain would appear to have a greater predisposition to GIRD related injuries. Description: B.SC.(HONS)PHYSIOTHERAPY