Accessible Patient Education Materials for Low Back Pain Rarely Meet People's Information Needs: A Scoping Review

Patient education is a cornerstone of care for individuals with non-specific low back pain (LBP). However, little is known about whether accessible patient education materials (PEMs) meet people's information needs.

We conducted a scoping review following the JBI methodology and reported results according to PRISMA-ScR. We systematically reviewed three databases: Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, and CINAHL. The search strategy was iteratively developed and peer-reviewed using the PRESS checklist. Eligible studies had to provide full access to the PEM designed for people with LBP. Study selection and data extraction were performed independently and in duplicate. Five reviewers conducted a consensus-based analysis by independently matching PEM content to eight categories of information needs derived from previous research.

Of 9617 citations identified, 23 studies met inclusion criteria, yielding 41 unique PEMs. We excluded many citations (67.3%) because the PEM used in the study was missing. Most PEMs were in English (95%) and took the form of posters, booklets, or leaflets. Only eight PEMs (19.5%) reported readability assessment. Stakeholder involvement was reported in eight studies. Among PEMs with stakeholder input, characteristics from the PROGRESS + framework were rarely disclosed. Only one PEM addressed all eight identified information needs. The most frequently covered information needs were treatment options (65.9%) and imaging (61.0%), while information on prognosis and flare management was scarce (17.1%).

Accessible PEMs for non-specific LBP rarely meet the full spectrum of patient information needs. Improving stakeholder involvement and readability assessment is essential to enhance the usefulness and equity of educational resources.