Methods and Results

LexisNexisTM Professional search engine was utilised to retrieve articles from all national newspapers over a six months containing the terms “back pain/backpain/back ache/backache” from May to October 2009.

284 relevant articles were retrieved. Of these tabloids accounted for 62% and broadsheets for 38%. Back pain was the sole topic in 7%, a main topic in 18% and mentioned in passing in 75%. 15% were essentially case reports and the tone was neutral in 95%, positive in 2.5% and negative in 2.5%. The cause of back pain was mentioned in 11% of articles- trauma accounted for 50% and disc disease and spinal deformity for 20% each. Only 0.3% of articles discussed litigation. Articles mentioned new physiotherapy regimes in 7%, new forms of alternative therapy in 7%, new surgical techniques/technologies in 2% and new medications in 1%. They were significantly more likely to mention new non-surgical techniques- Fishers' Exact Test p=0.01. Articles were alternative therapy related in 3%, physiotherapist related in 2%, surgeon related in 1% and pain specialist related in 1%. 10% of papers included a quote from an “expert” of which 23% were Spine Surgeons, 16% GP's, 13% Sports Physicians, 13% alternative therapists, 10% pain specialists and 7% physiotherapists. Overall, 98% of articles were of a neutral tone and 1% were of a positive tone or negative tone. Articles concerning physiotherapists or new surgical techniques/technologies were significantly more likely to be of a positive overall tone than the other articles- Fishers' Exact Test p=0.04.