Hemakumar Devan1, Meredith A Perry2, Angelique van Hattem3, Greg Thurlow3, Sam Shepherd3, Carol Muchemwa3, Rebecca Grainger4. 1. Centre for Health, Activity, and Rehabilitation Research (CHARR), School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand. Electronic address: hemakumar.devan@otago.ac.nz. 2. Centre for Health, Activity, and Rehabilitation Research (CHARR), School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand. 3. School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, New Zealand. 4. Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate if the contents of pain management websites include the current best practice self-management support strategies for people with persistent pain, are cultural tailored and to determine the website quality. METHODS: Websites were searched from three major search engines (Google, Bing, and Yahoo). Websites providing information on self-management strategies and websites that were freely available to the public were included. The website contents were evaluated using a 14-item self-management support (SMS-14) checklist. Website quality was assessed using the Health On the Net code (HONcode) certification. RESULTS: Of the twenty-seven websites evaluated, the websites scored a median of nine items (range 1-13) from the SMS-14 checklist. The websites LivePlanBe, ACI Pain Management Network and MyJointPain top-scored (13/14) from the SMS-14 checklist. One website (ACI Pain Management Network) provided culturally tailored information and HONcode certification was present in six websites. CONCLUSIONS: The review identified 27 contemporary pain management websites that could be used for self-management skills training. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Clinicians could refer people with persistent pain to top ranked websites - LivePlanBe, ACI Pain Management Network, and MyJointPain for enabling self-management skills, with the caveats that most websites lacked cultural tailoring, and have limited or no evidence of clinical efficacy.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate if the contents of pain management websites include the current best practice self-management support strategies for people with persistent pain, are cultural tailored and to determine the website quality. METHODS: Websites were searched from three major search engines (Google, Bing, and Yahoo). Websites providing information on self-management strategies and websites that were freely available to the public were included. The website contents were evaluated using a 14-item self-management support (SMS-14) checklist. Website quality was assessed using the Health On the Net code (HONcode) certification. RESULTS: Of the twenty-seven websites evaluated, the websites scored a median of nine items (range 1-13) from the SMS-14 checklist. The websites LivePlanBe, ACI Pain Management Network and MyJointPain top-scored (13/14) from the SMS-14 checklist. One website (ACI Pain Management Network) provided culturally tailored information and HONcode certification was present in six websites. CONCLUSIONS: The review identified 27 contemporary pain management websites that could be used for self-management skills training. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Clinicians could refer people with persistent pain to top ranked websites - LivePlanBe, ACI Pain Management Network, and MyJointPain for enabling self-management skills, with the caveats that most websites lacked cultural tailoring, and have limited or no evidence of clinical efficacy.