BACKonLINE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
BACKonLINE: Internet based personalised self-management support system for people with back pain
IRAS ID
258505
Contact name
Liba Sheeran
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
This study will evaluate feasibility, acceptability and potential usefulness of a web-based intervention tool BACK-on-LINETM (BoL) designed to help people with low back pain (LBP) in the workplace to better self-manage and stay in work. This study will lead to full trial.
LBP is a leading cause of disability world-wide. Recently updated NICE guidelines (NG:59) on LBP/sciatica management did away with passive treatments (e.g. injections, traction) adopting more active approach promoting self-management, encouraging people to remain physically active, staying in work. Current LBP self-management programmes, however, tend to offer generic and information-dense content not considering individual circumstances with limited behaviour change theory underpinning. They also reach people quite late, often after they seek medical help and going off work.
With user involvement we developed Back-on-LineTM a digital self-management support system that the person accesses in a workplace ideally before they go off work with bad back. The users fill in a self-assessment on basis of which they are guided to an individualised self-management plan.
This study aim is to evaluate feasibility, usability, usefulness and cost of Back-on-LineTM launched to the workforce in NHS Wales for a period of 6 months (planned launch Oct 2019). During this time all staff within the two sites will have access to BoL individualised LBP self-management support system.
We will collect data on (i) usage (how many people used BoL) (ii) usability/acceptance (2 validated questionnaires) (iii) feasibility for user/service (focus groups, telephone interviews on what did/didn’t work using BoL and whether it influenced, motivated, equipped users to better self-manage). We will also ask occupational health healthcare practitioners about changes in service (e.g. self-referral rates) and potential usefulness, perceived risks, willingness/ability to use BoL as part of service (iii) cost (set up/ maintenance/ running cost over the 6-month testing period across 2 organisations.
REC name
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REC reference
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