Smartphone App for Adolescents With Idiopathic Scoliosis

Summary

This study aims to evaluate a smartphone application (DinSkoliose) designed to support adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in managing their condition and following their treatment. Adolescents with AIS often find it challenging to adhere to conservative treatment, such as wearing a brace or performing physiotherapy exercises. The app was developed specifically for this study as a theory-informed digital health intervention to support self-management and treatment adherence. It includes features such as symptom tracking, educational content, reminders, and social support. Participants will use the app for 12 weeks in their everyday environment alongside their usual care. They will complete questionnaires before and after the intervention and participate in an interview to share their experiences. The study will examine whether the app can improve health-related behaviors, including treatment adherence and self-management, and whether it is feasible and acceptable for adolescents with scoliosis.The app is meant to complemen the current AIS treatment, doesn't substitute it.

Interventions

• DinSkoliose smartphone application · DEVICE

  The intervention consists of the use of the DinSkoliose smartphone application, a personalized digital health tool specifically developed for this study. The app is designed to support adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis in managing their condition and improving adherence to conservative treatment. The app includes features for monitoring brace use and physiotherapy exercises, tracking symptoms such as pain and mood, providing educational content, sending reminders, and offering structured social support. Participants will use the app independently in their everyday environment over a 12-week period alongside their usual care. No additional treatment will be provided.

Published eligibility criteria

Verbatim from the registry. Only the site can decide how these apply to a specific patient.

The study population will consist of adolescent patients with AIS.

The Inclusion criteria for participants in our study are those:

1. who are diagnosed with AIS;
2. who give written informed consent,
3. who are at the age between 10 - 24 years old;
4. under 16 years old for whom parental consent has been provided (as required by the National Research Ethics Committee);
5. who can speak, read, and write in Norwegian or English;
6. who have access to and ability to use smart phone;
7. who have internet access.

The Exclusion criteria for participants in our study are those who:

1. have a history of other type of scoliosis (such as congenital, neuromuscular, degenerative);
2. are younger than 10 years old and older than 24 years old;
3. have any additional diagnosis that could affect the intervention outcome (severe mental health disorders or diagnosis of a developmental disorder that prevents understanding and compliance with intervention, leg length discrepancy).

Sites (1)

• OsloMet, Oslo, Norway