Using an app to help manage chronic low back pain in Alberta
Official title: Alberta Rehabilitation Advice Line SelfBack Study
Run by University of Alberta · NCT06484751 · Data updated 2026-05-14
This study is no longer in our active list. It may have stopped recruiting or finished. The details below are as of 2026-05-14 and are kept for reference. Check ClinicalTrials.gov for its current status, or see similar studies below.
This study tests whether using the SelfBack app can help people in Alberta with chronic low back pain manage their condition better by providing personalized advice on education and exercise.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Alberta Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Edmonton, Albertta) |
| Trial ID | NCT06484751 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are Albertan adults over 18 years old with persistent low back pain impacting daily activities for more than one month.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with complex back pain requiring direct clinical oversight or those with serious mental illnesses may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study evaluates the feasibility of distributing the SelfBack app through the Alberta Rehabilitation Advice Line to assist patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP). The app aims to support self-management by providing personalized advice on education and exercise. Licensed physiotherapists and occupational therapists will train to distribute the app to eligible patients who call the advice line. The study will also assess patient outcomes based on data collected through the app.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could empower patients to manage their chronic low back pain more effectively and reduce reliance on harmful medical interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise in using mobile health applications for self-management of chronic pain, indicating potential success for this approach.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Patient Inclusion Criteria: Patients with persistent and/or recurrent LBP. Those who benefit most from Selfback are those who have persistent pain when defined as those currently having LBP that has impacted daily activities for \> 1 month. In addition, eligible patients will... * be Albertan adults over 18 years of age * be persons who meet the above definition of LBP, but may also include patients with stable radiculopathy/sciatica * have a personal smartphone with internet access. * have a working e-mail address. * speak, read, and write English or have regular access to persons who can assist in this regard. Exclusion Criteria: * be patients who have complex back pain that requires direct clinical oversight. * have cognitive impairments or learning disabilities limiting participation. * have a serious mental illness * have non-LBP illnesses or conditions that are contraindicated to participation in SelfBack (e.g. exercise). * have a terminal illness * have an inability to take part in exercise/physical activity.
Where it's running
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Alberta rehabilitation advice line
Edmonton, Albertta, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Greg Kawchuk, PhD
- Email: gkawchuk@ualberta.ca
- Phone: 7809651215
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.