Treatment options for back pain provided online in Canadian magazines: Comparison against evidence from a clinical practice guideline

Background: Evidence-based treatments for adult back pain have long been confirmed, with research continuing to narrow down the scope of recommended practices. However, a tension exists between research-driven treatments and unsubstantiated modalities and techniques promoted to the public. This disparity in knowledge translation, which results in unsupported treatments continuing to be performed, may be linked to the information dispensed by the mass media. Objectives: The aim of this study was to review the top 20 most circulated Canadian-produced general-interest and health-specific magazines to determine whether featured treatment options align with recommendations for back pain management in a Canadian clinical practice guideline (CPG). Methods: Online electronic searches of magazine websites were performed using the following terms: ‘back pain’, ‘low back pain’ (English); ‘ mal au dos’, ‘ lombalgie’, ‘ mal de dos’ and ‘ maux de dos’ (French). Independent reviewers screened for articles focusing on treatment, abstracted recommendations from included articles and then compared featured treatments with those outlined in the CPG. Results: A total of 1,775 articles were screened, with 82 articles from 15 magazines included. Articles cited scientific studies or consulted spine-care professionals in 7/15 and 9/15 magazines, respectively. There were 18 categories of treatments reported with 4/18 (22%) treatment options in agreement with CPG recommendations for acute/sub-acute and chronic back pain. Yoga/Stretching/Tai Chi/Pilates and Exercise/Physical activity were the most commonly reported treatment categories. Conclusion: Encouragingly, the majority of treatment options reported for low back pain were non-surgical. Overall, few articles recommended reassurance, back pain education or back-specific postural/strengthening/flexibility exercises. Popular magazines should provide details on article authors, cite scientific reports, consult spine-care professionals and provide relevant links to literature for readers to access more scientific information.