Using psychological theory and qualitative methods to develop a new evidence-based website about acupuncture for back pain.
BACKGROUND
Potential acupuncture patients seek out information about acupuncture from various sources including websites, many of which are unreliable. We aimed to create an informative, scientifically accurate and engaging website to educate patients about acupuncture for back pain and modify their beliefs in a way that might enhance its clinical effects.


METHODS
We used psychological theory and techniques to design an evidence-based website, incorporating multimedia elements. We conducted qualitative "think aloud" audio-recorded interviews to elicit user views of the website. A convenience sample of ten participants (4 male; aged 21-64 years from the local community) looked at the website in the presence of a researcher and spoke their thoughts out loud. Comments were categorised by topic.


RESULTS
The website comprises 11 main pages and addresses key topics of interest to potential acupuncture patients, including beneficial and adverse effects, mechanisms of action, safety, practicalities, and patients' experiences of acupuncture. It provides information through text, evidence summaries and audio-clips of four patients' stories and two acupuncturists' descriptions of their practice, and three short films. Evidence from the think aloud study was used to identify opportunities to make the website more informative, engaging, and user-friendly.


CONCLUSIONS
Using a combination of psychological theory and qualitative interviews enabled us to produce a user-friendly, evidence-based website that is likely to change patients' beliefs about acupuncture for back pain. Before using the website in clinical settings it is necessary to test its effects on key outcomes including patients' beliefs and capacity for making informed choices about acupuncture.
Centre for Applications of Health Psychology, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, Building 44 Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom.
Felicity L
FL
Bishop
Centre for Applications of Health Psychology, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, Building 44 Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom.
Maddy
M
Greville-Harris
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, United Kingdom.
Jennifer
J
Bostock
Centre for Innovation & Leadership in Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom.
Amy
A
Din
Centre for Applications of Health Psychology, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, Building 44 Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom.
Cynthia A
CA
Graham
Primary Care and Population Sciences, Aldermoor Health Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 5ST, United Kingdom.
George
G
Lewith
Centre for Applications of Health Psychology, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, Building 44 Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom.
Christina
C
Liossi
Zemedia, Bitterne Park, Southampton, SO18 1NH, United Kingdom.
Tim
T
O'Riordan
Primary Care and Population Sciences, Aldermoor Health Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 5ST, United Kingdom.
Rachel
R
Ryves
Centre for Innovation & Leadership in Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom.
Peter
P
White
Centre for Applications of Health Psychology, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, Building 44 Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom.
Lucy
L
Yardley
Acupuncture; Back pain; Digital intervention; Internet; Patient education; Qualitative research