title: Designing an online resource for people with low back pain: health-care provider perspectives.
abstract: People with low back pain (LBP) seek education and information from the Internet. Existing LBP websites are often of poor quality, and disparities have been identified between patient and health-care provider evaluations of LBP websites. This study aimed to identify health-care provider perspectives on desirable content for a proposed LBP website and how this information should be presented. It complements an earlier study of LBP patient (consumer) perspectives. A qualitative descriptive study, encompassing focus groups and telephone interviews, was conducted with 42 health-care professionals practising in the LBP field. Four categories of information were identified: explaining LBP; treatment and management options; myth-busting information; and communication with health-care professionals. Presentation preferences included: use of visual media; interactivity; and useability and readability. Comparison with the consumer study identified differences with regard to: depth and breadth of diagnostic and treatment information; provision of lay person experiences and stories; and capacity for consumer-to-consumer interaction online. Views of both consumers and health-care providers are critical when developing an online LBP resource. Failure to address the needs of both stakeholder groups diminishes the potential of the resource to improve consumer outcomes.
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Gwendolen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jull
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Hodges
mesh_terms: D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research