Preferences for Web-Based Information Material for Low Back Pain: Qualitative Interview Study on People Consulting a General Practitioner

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Abstract

Background

Information on self-management, including addressing people’s fears and concerns, are core aspects of managing patients with low back pain (LBP). Web apps with patient information may be used to extend patient-physician consultations and encourage self-management outside of the consultation room. It is, however, important to identify the end users’ needs and preferences in order to maximize acceptance.

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify preferences for the content, design, and functionality of a Web app with evidence-based information and advice for people with LBP in Denmark.

Methods

This is a phenomenological qualitative study. Adults who had consulted their general practitioner because of LBP within the past 14 days were included. Each participated in a semistructured interview, which was audiotaped and transcribed for text condensation. Interviews were conducted at the participant’s home by 2 interviewers. Participants also completed a questionnaire that requested information on age, gender, internet usage, interest in searching new knowledge, LBP-related function, and pain.

Results

Fifteen 45-min interviews were conducted. Participants had a median age of 40 years (range 22-68 years) and reported a median disability of 7 points (range 0-18) using the 23-item Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire. Participants reported that Web-based information should be easy to find and read, easily overviewed, and not be overloaded with information. Subjects found existing Web-based information confusing, often difficult to comprehend, and not relevant for them, and they questioned the motives driving most hosting companies or organizations. The Patient Handbook, a Danish government-funded website that provides information to Danes about health, was mentioned as a trustworthy and preferred site when searching for information and advice regarding LBP.

Conclusions

This study identified important issues to consider when developing and supplementing existing general practice treatment with Web-based information and advice for patients with LBP. Development of a Web app should consider patient input, and developers should carefully address the following domains: readability, customization, design, credibility, and usability.

Related collections

Most cited references 13

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Clinical course of non-specific low back pain: a systematic review of prospective cohort studies set in primary care.

P Nelemans, C J Itz, Peter van Lent … (2012)

Non-specific low back pain is a relatively common and recurrent condition for which at present there is no effective cure. In current guidelines, the prognosis of acute non-specific back pain is assumed to be favourable, but this assumption is mainly based on return to function. This systematic review investigates the clinical course of pain in patients with non-specific acute low back pain who seek treatment in primary care. DATABASES AND DATA TREATMENT: Included were prospective studies, with follow-up of at least 12 months, that studied the prognosis of patients with low back pain for less than 3 months of duration in primary care settings. Proportions of patients still reporting pain during follow-up were pooled using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were used to identify sources of variation between the results of individual studies. A total of 11 studies were eligible for evaluation. In the first 3 months, recovery is observed in 33% of patients, but 1 year after onset, 65% still report pain. Subgroup analysis reveals that the pooled proportion of patients still reporting pain after 1 year was 71% at 12 months for studies that considered total absence of pain as a criterion for recovery versus 57% for studies that used a less stringent definition. The pooled proportion for Australian studies was 41% versus 69% for European or US studies. The findings of this review indicate that the assumption that spontaneous recovery occurs in a large majority of patients is not justified. There should be more focus on intensive follow-up of patients who have not recovered within the first 3 months. © 2012 European Federation of International Association for the Study of Pain Chapters.

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Continued sports activity, using a pain-monitoring model, during rehabilitation in patients with Achilles tendinopathy: a randomized controlled study.

Jon Karlsson, Bengt I Eriksson, Karin Gravare-Silbernagel … (2007)

Achilles tendinopathy is a common overuse injury, especially among athletes involved in activities that include running and jumping. Often an initial period of rest from the pain-provoking activity is recommended. To prospectively evaluate if continued running and jumping during treatment with an Achilles tendon-loading strengthening program has an effect on the outcome. Randomized clinical control trial; Level of evidence, 1. Thirty-eight patients with Achilles tendinopathy were randomly allocated to 2 different treatment groups. The exercise training group (n = 19) was allowed, with the use of a pain-monitoring model, to continue Achilles tendon-loading activity, such as running and jumping, whereas the active rest group (n = 19) had to stop such activities during the first 6 weeks. All patients were rehabilitated according to an identical rehabilitation program. The primary outcome measures were the Swedish version of the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles questionnaire (VISA-A-S) and the pain level during tendon-loading activity. No significant differences in the rate of improvements were found between the groups. Both groups showed, however, significant (P < .01) improvements, compared with baseline, on the primary outcome measure at all the evaluations. The exercise training group had a mean (standard deviation) VISA-A-S score of 57 (15.8) at baseline and 85 (12.7) at the 12-month follow-up (P < .01). The active rest group had a mean (standard deviation) VISA-A-S score of 57 (15.7) at baseline and 91 (8.2) at the 12-month follow-up (P < .01). No negative effects could be demonstrated from continuing Achilles tendon-loading activity, such as running and jumping, with the use of a pain-monitoring model, during treatment. Our treatment protocol for patients with Achilles tendinopathy, which gradually increases the load on the Achilles tendon and calf muscle, demonstrated significant improvements. A training regimen of continued, pain-monitored, tendon-loading physical activity might therefore represent a valuable option for patients with Achilles tendinopathy.

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Author and article information

Contributors

Allan Riis:

Research Unit for General Practice in AalborgDepartment of Clinical MedicineAalborg UniversityFyrkildevej 7, 1. salAalborg, 9220Denmark45 20823660ariis@dcm.aau.dk

ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7009-3025

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol

Journal ID (publisher-id): JRAT

Title: JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies

Publisher: JMIR Publications (Toronto, Canada )

ISSN (Electronic): 2369-2529

Publication date Collection: Jan-Jun 2018

Publication date (Electronic): 02 April 2018

Volume: 5

Issue: 1

Electronic Location Identifier: e7

Affiliations

[1] ¹ Research Unit for General Practice in Aalborg Department of Clinical Medicine Aalborg University Aalborg Denmark

[2] ² Department of Development and Planning Aalborg University Aalborg Denmark

[3] ³ Centre for Muscle and Joint Health Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics University of Southern Denmark Odense Denmark

[4] ⁴ Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics Odense Denmark

Author notes

Corresponding Author: Allan Riis ariis@ 123456dcm.aau.dk

Author information

Allan Riis http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7009-3025

Ditte Meulengracht Hjelmager http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8870-9713

Line Dausel Vinther http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3475-6127

Michael Skovdal Rathleff http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1173-0335

Jan Hartvigsen http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5876-7410

Martin Bach Jensen http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2162-7390

Article

Publisher ID: v5i1e7

DOI: 10.2196/rehab.8841

PMC ID: 5902697

PubMed ID: 29610108

SO-VID: cd998b3b-cdf3-4d88-ad52-83df72aab8a1

Copyright © ©Allan Riis, Ditte Meulengracht Hjelmager, Line Dausel Vinther, Michael Skovdal Rathleff, Jan Hartvigsen, Martin Bach Jensen. Originally published in JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology (http://rehab.jmir.org), 02.04.2018.

License:

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on http://rehab.jmir.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included.

History

Date received : 25 August 2017

Date revision requested : 2 December 2017

Date revision received : 16 January 2018

Date accepted : 2 February 2018

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