BACKGROUND: Smartphone apps hold significant potential to improve access to evidence-based interventions and support self-management in patients with pain.
OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were: (i) to map patient-targeted apps for pain management available in Brazilian app marketplaces, and (ii) to describe the characteristics, content and quality of information provided by these apps.
METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of mobile apps in two Brazilian app markets (App Store and Google Play) using the keywords "dor", "dor crônica", and "manejo dor". The following data were retrieved: (i) app characteristics (description, developer, professional, and data security), (ii) pain management content (pain assessment, pain diary, pain education, activity pacing, goal setting, cognitive restructuring, physical activity, relaxation or meditation practice, psychological approaches, and behavioral skills), and (iii) quality of information (credibility, outcome measures, quality of description, visual information, and feedback).
RESULTS: The total sample consisted of 41 apps. The user mean rating was 4.2/5.0. A significant portion of the apps (63.4 %) required in-app purchases. We found significant gaps in developer transparency (professional backgrounds and data security protocols). Most apps covered only one content including mainly physical activity and pain tracking diaries. Visual content information ranked highest in terms of accuracy and clarity. Credibility was not mentioned in 82.9 % of the apps.
CONCLUSION: Overall, most of the pain-related apps included in our review exhibited both unclear descriptions in several aspects and a limited coverage of self-management contents (e.g., psychological approaches). A considerable portion of these apps lacked rigorous evaluation against established scientific standards.