Low Back Pain Patient Education Evaluation

This study will develop and evaluate in a randomized trial a low back pain intervention that allows subjects to talk with each other and with health professionals via an Internet discussion group. The intervention consists of a book and a videotape and is based on interaction with other participants in the program and health professionals through a closed password protected moderated Internet discussion group. Outcome measures include health behaviors, such as exercise; health status, such as pain and disability; and health care use, such as number of visits to doctors and other health care providers. Patients will be randomized either to the treatment group and followed for 6, 12, 18, and 24 months with the intervention.

Inclusion criteria

• Must live in the United States
• Must understand and write English
• Must have access to a computer with e-mail and expect to have this access for at least 3 years
• Must be 18 years old
• Must have seen a doctor for back pain at least once in the past year

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy
• Back surgery in the past 6 months
• Expectation of having back surgery in the next 6 months
• Back pain due to a car accident or other major injury within the last 6 months
• Back pain or sciatica due to systemic disease (inflammatory rheumatic diseases, tumor, or other)
• Major physical or mental health condition for which one is currently being treated that severely limits daily activities
• Terminal illness
• Receiving disability or workers compensation insurance payments for back pain or sciatica
• Presently involved in legal proceedings because of back pain or sciatica
• Difficulty with bladder or bowel control that began with back pain or sciatica
• No visits to a doctor in the past year for back pain or sciatica
• Numbness in crotch area that began with back pain or sciatica
• Age under 18