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Hybrid mHealth for Low Back Pain
Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether adding a WhatsApp-based AI chatbot to standard physiotherapy and psychological care can improve self-management and outcomes in adults aged 18-65 with chronic low back pain (CLBP). The main questions it aims to answer are: Is it feasible and acceptable to use a WhatsApp-based AI chatbot as an adjunct to standard care in adults with CLBP? Does the addition of an AI chatbot improve pain, disability, mental health, and quality of life compared to standard care or digital self-management alone? Researchers will compare three groups: Standard care (face-to-face physiotherapy and education) with the AI chatbot, Standard care alone, AI chatbot alone. Participants will: Attend weekly sessions for 8 weeks (depending on group assignment, this may be face-to-face, digital, or both); Use a WhatsApp-based AI chatbot for personalized exercise and self-management support, gamification, and optional peer-support; Complete questionnaires and provide feedback on pain, function, mental health, and program usability at several time points; Receive onboarding and privacy safeguards for digital components.
Official title: Hybrid mHealth Care for Chronic Low Back Pain: Feasibility of a WhatsApp-Based AI Chatbot Adjunct to Face-to-Face Physiotherapy
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 65 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
60
Start Date
2026-11-02
Completion Date
2027-11-02
Last Updated
2026-10-29
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Face-to-face physiotherapy and psychological care (for hybrid arm)
Eight weekly, 60-minute in-person sessions focusing on exercise, back care education, pain science, ergonomic advice, symptom monitoring, and home exercise, with brief psychological guidance.
WhatsApp-based AI chatbot for self-management (for hybrid and WhatsApp-only arms)
A WhatsApp-delivered AI chatbot providing personalized exercise and education content, gamification (badges/dashboard), mindfulness-based stress reduction, reminders, and optional peer support, delivered weekly for eight weeks, with clinical escalation as needed.
Face-to-face physiotherapy and psychological care (No Digital Support) (for control arm)
Eight weekly, 60-minute in-person sessions providing physiotherapy and brief psychological guidance. Focuses on exercise, education, home exercise, and functional training. Participants do not receive any digital self-management or WhatsApp support.
Locations (1)
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong