What question did this study set out to answer?

To identify and understand key processes and potential mechanisms underlying the clinical impact of an internet-supported self-management intervention for low back pain.

October 1, 2025BMJ OpenOpen Access

Understanding internet-supported self-management for low back pain in primary care: a qualitative process evaluation of the SupportBack 2 randomised controlled trial

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Authors

AGAdam W A Geraghty SHStephanie Hughes LRLisa Roberts

Discussion

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Overview

Randomized trial evaluation reveals that digital self-management relies on linking exercise to pain relief in low back pain, suggesting cognitive and physical barriers inhibit effectiveness.

Key Points

To identify and understand key processes and potential mechanisms underlying the clinical impact of an internet-supported self-management intervention for low back pain.
Conducted a nested qualitative process evaluation of the SupportBack 2 randomized controlled trial (ISRCTN: 14736486) within primary care in England.
Completed telephone interviews with 46 trial participants at 3 (n=15), 6 (n=14), or 12 months (n=17) post-randomization, alongside 5 physiotherapists providing telephone support.
Analyzed interview transcripts thematically using realist logic to identify context-mechanism-outcome configurations.
Participants reporting clinical benefit connected physical activity and exercise directly to back pain relief, adopting movement as an ongoing regulatory strategy.
Non-responders faced significant barriers to this associative process, including negative expectations, prohibitive beliefs about spinal pathology, and functional limitations.
Physiotherapist telephone support provided accountability and validation, but the absence of physical clinical assessment constrained its perceived value.

Cite This Study

Geraghty et al. (2025) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a11dc62c031bb6829a573b3 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-103428

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October 1, 2025BMJ OpenOpen Access

Understanding internet-supported self-management for low back pain in primary care: a qualitative process evaluation of the SupportBack 2 randomised controlled trial

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

AGAdam W A Geraghty SHStephanie Hughes LRLisa Roberts

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Randomized trial evaluation reveals that digital self-management relies on linking exercise to pain relief in low back pain, suggesting cognitive and physical barriers inhibit effectiveness.

Key Points

To identify and understand key processes and potential mechanisms underlying the clinical impact of an internet-supported self-management intervention for low back pain.
Conducted a nested qualitative process evaluation of the SupportBack 2 randomized controlled trial (ISRCTN: 14736486) within primary care in England.
Completed telephone interviews with 46 trial participants at 3 (n=15), 6 (n=14), or 12 months (n=17) post-randomization, alongside 5 physiotherapists providing telephone support.
Analyzed interview transcripts thematically using realist logic to identify context-mechanism-outcome configurations.
Participants reporting clinical benefit connected physical activity and exercise directly to back pain relief, adopting movement as an ongoing regulatory strategy.
Non-responders faced significant barriers to this associative process, including negative expectations, prohibitive beliefs about spinal pathology, and functional limitations.
Physiotherapist telephone support provided accountability and validation, but the absence of physical clinical assessment constrained its perceived value.

Cite This Study

Geraghty et al. (2025) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a11dc62c031bb6829a573b3 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-103428

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