The impact of a moderated e-mail discussion group on use of complementary and alternative therapies in subjects with recurrent back pain.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose was to examine whether or not participation in an e-mail discussion group would affect use of selected complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities during an Internet-based, 1-year randomized, controlled trial on back pain management.


METHODS
Intervention subjects (n = 190) participated in a closed, moderated e-mail discussion group; control subjects (n = 231) received usual care. At 1 year, we compared CAM use over the previous 6-month period during which intervention subjects had had interactive discussions about them. Differences in CAM use between groups were compared using Chi-square and t-tests.


RESULTS
Subjects did not differ statistically between groups (p > 0.05). They were Caucasian (approximately 91%), male (approximately 60%), in their mid-40s, well educated, had approximately 13 years back pain duration, a disability level approximately 10 (Roland-Morris scale: 0-23; 23 = worst), and >80% had used the Internet for greater than a year before the randomized trial. During the study period, only small proportions in either group had initiated use of glucosamine (13% versus 8%), chiropractic services (5% versus 4%), acupuncture (3%, both), yoga (6% versus 4%), or magnets (6%, both).


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that participation in interactive discussions over the Internet about these CAM modalities may not affect their use.
Bruce
Bonnie
B
Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1000 Welch Road, Suite 203, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. bbruce@stanford.edu
Lorig
Kate
K
Laurent
Diana
D
Ritter
Philip
P
D001416:Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric