Pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain: Exploring the use of digital media for condition-related information provision

Background: Online health information-seeking is thought to be common among pregnant women, and the use of digital media has been widely adopted. Women with pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain (PLPP) are often disappointed with the volume and content of condition-related information offered by their health care providers and alternative modes of information provision therefore need to be explored. The widespread adoption of digital media suggests that such platforms may provide a convenient alternative for information delivery. Aims: To explore the PLPP-related information-seeking practices of women experiencing this condition and the attitudes of National Health Service (NHS) service users and healthcare professionals towards the use of digital media for PLPP-related information provision. Ethical approval: Ethical and HRA approvals were gained for this study (REC reference 15/NI/0270). Methods: Multi-method qualitative study: individual semi-structured interviews with seven NHS service users and two single-profession focus groups, one with six NHS-based midwives and one with four NHS-based physiotherapists. A framework method of thematic analysis was used. No member checking was undertaken. Results: All service users were aged 21–36 years, with gestational age <32 weeks. All midwives were >10 years post-qualification and had experience of an antenatal clinic setting. Two physiotherapists were five–10 years post qualification, two were >10 years post-qualification. All had relevant experience of treating women with PPLP. Searching online for condition-related information was reported by all service users and complex drivers for this behaviour were described. All stakeholder groups shared concerns about the quality and trustworthiness of PLPP-related information available online. The use of apps for condition-related information provision was viewed positively by all groups, but the majority of service users stated a lack of trust in health information obtained via social media. Conclusion: The development of an app-based intervention to facilitate the management of PLPP is supported by this study and is therefore worthy of further exploration.