Information needs of people with low back pain for an online resource: a qualitative study of consumer views

Abstract

Purpose: To identify the information needs of people with low back pain (LBP) in Australia, and the preferred methods to present this information online, as a basis for development of a patient-centred website. Available online LBP resources are limited in quality and content and it is not clear if they are meeting the needs of sufferers. Method: Focus groups and semi-structured telephone interviews, involving 28 people with LBP. Results: Seven categories of information were identified: reasons for LBP, treatment and management options, self-help information, psychological and social dimensions, lay stories, quality assurance of information and roles of different healthcare professionals and locally available services. Identified preferences for online presentation included: multimodality, emphasis on visual media, readability and interactivity. Participants had been unable to obtain desired LBP information using existing resources. Conclusions: This study provides important guidance for development of a patient-centred website grounded in the expressed needs and preferences of people with LBP. Understanding the breadth of patients’ questions and concerns is essential for provision of patient-centred information and interventions. Incorporating these with the current evidence base would provide an accessible and relevant LBP patient education referral point, which is currently lacking.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Use of the internet to obtain health information is increasing, although there is little evidence that existing low back pain websites are meeting the expressed needs of health consumers.

• Our research suggests that people with low back pain have difficulty finding relevant and trustworthy information about the condition on the internet.

• Taking patient information needs and presentation preferences into account when designing online information material will provide people with low back pain an accessible and relevant educational resource that is currently lacking.

• Consumer preference
• health information
• internet
• low back pain

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr Simon French, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, The University of Melbourne for his comments on the draft manuscript.