A systematic review of smartphone applications for chronic pain available for download in the United States

OBJECTIVE: A Smartphone app could be useful in aiding patients in self-monitoring and self-managing their chronic pain-related symptoms. The purpose of this study was to systematically review English-language pain-related Smartphone apps available for download in the United States. DESIGN: During July 2012, official Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone Smartphone app platform stores were searched. "Pain" was entered into the search-bar of each Smartphone app store. Of the pain apps meeting inclusion criteria, the following were retrieved: release date, download cost (US dollars US, file size, documentation of a healthcare professional's (HCP) involvement in app development, primary purpose of the app (pain education, pain self-management, or a combination of pain education and self-management), targeted pain-related condition (s), and inclusion of features that addressed four common self-monitoring and/or management strategies. RESULTS: Of the 220 apps meeting inclusion criteria, the majority were available through the iPhone (80. 0 percent). The cost for downloading each app ranged from US 0. 00 to 89. 99; however, the majority of apps were ≤US 4. 99. There was no evidence of HCP involvement in the development of the majority of apps (65. 0 percent). Chronic, nonspecific pain was the focus of half (50. 5 percent) of the apps, followed by back and/or neck pain (25. 9 percent). The primary purpose of the apps was categorized as follows: pain education (n = 53, 24. 1 percent), pain self-management (n = 137, 62. 3 percent), and both pain education and self management (n = 30, 13. 6 percent). CONCLUSION: Overall, most of the pain-related apps included within our review not only lacked evidence of HCP input regarding development but also contained few evidence-based pain management features.