JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

An ever increasing number of patients seek health information via the internet. However, there is an overabundance of differing, often low-quality information available, whilst a lack of health literacy makes it difficult for patients to understand and assess the quality and trustworthiness of the information at hand. The web portal tala-med was thus conceived as an evidence-based, up-to-date and trustworthy information resource for lower back pain (LBP), that could be used by primary care physicians (PCPs) and patients during and following consultations for LBP. The current evidence demonstrates that patients suffering with LBP could benefit from web portals. Despite this, however, the use of such portals by patients remains low, thus limiting their effectiveness. It is therefore important to explore the factors that promote or hinder the use of web portals and to investigate how patients perceive their usability and utility.

Objective:

This study investigates the acceptance, usability and utility of the web portal tala-med from the patient perspective.

Methods:

This qualitative study is based on telephone interviews with patients who had received access to the web portal tala-med from their PCP. We used a semi-structured interview guide which consisted of questions about the consultation in which patients were introduced to tala-med in addition to questions regarding patient perceptions, experiences and utilization of tala-med. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed through framework analysis.

Results:

Thirty-two half-hour interviews were conducted with 16 female and 16 male patients with LBP. We identified five themes of interest: The use of tala-med by PCPs during the consultation, the use of tala-med by patients, its usability, added values derived from its use, and the resultant effects of using tala-med. PCPs used tala-med as an additional information resource for their patients and recommended the exercises. Patients appreciated these exercises and were willing to use tala-med at home. We also identified factors that promoted or hindered the use of tala-med by patients. Most patients rated tala-med positively and considered it a clear, comprehensible, trustworthy and practical resource. In particular, the trustworthiness of tala-med was seen as an advantage over other information resources. The possibilities offered by tala-med to recap and reflect on the contents of consultations in a time-flexible and independent manner was perceived as adding value to the PCP consultation.

Conclusions:

Tala-med was well-accepted by patients and appears to be well-suited to being employed as an add-on to PCP consultations. Patient perception also supports its usability and utility. Tala-med may therefore enrich consultations and assist patients who would otherwise be unable to find good quality online health information on LBP. In addition, our findings support the future development of digital health platforms and their successful use as a supplement to PCP consultations. Clinical Trial: German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00014279; https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00014279