Back and Neck Pain assessment overview

Introduction

Our Back and Neck Pain assessment is a preventive tool that improves health outcomes while also driving consumer engagement and patient acquisition. In order to do both, it gathers and weighs users’ self-reported information to gauge whether they are potentially at risk for back and neck issues, with the aim of encouraging those who are at risk to make an appointment with their healthcare provider. Even if a user isn’t at risk, the assessment is designed to educate and empower them to seek future treatment when necessary. 

Data-driven design

WebMD Ignite HealthAdvisor utilizes clinical propensity models to identify consumers with a high likelihood of need for your goal service, and that data informs the content and function of this assessment. With most users taking a next step following completion of the assessment, your custom calls to action can be a key driver in motivating an already highly-activated audience.

Medical basis and rigorous review

Our assessment’s definition and calculation of risk are rooted in information provided by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. And like all of our content, the entire assessment is rigorously reviewed and updated according to the standards outlined below:

Three-tier peer review of all content 

• Initial clinician review
• External review by SMEs across full range of clinical expertise
• Final clinician review

Continuous review of 180+ sources

• Every content asset reviewed on a 24-month cycle
• Expedited revisions of applicable pieces for any change in clinical standards
• Real-time content creation for emerging issues (e.g. COVID-19)

Product description

Our assessment determines a user’s risk level based on the number and severity of risk factors they report, including:

• Age
• Weight
• Type and duration of pain
• Headaches
• Stress and mental health conditions
• Family history
• Sleep habits
• Related injuries and conditions
• Related procedures and treatments

Once complete, the assessment gathers the user’s contact information and generates a results page on which a relative risk level is assigned to each of their responses, with more in-depth information provided for the 5 most common risk factors. It also provides an overall result based on the user’s cumulative risk level.

Overall results

While the results page displays more granular and nuanced information for explanatory and educational purposes, the overall assessment generates one of two primary outcomes:

• The user’s answers tell us they may be at risk for back and neck pain
  • Users with this result are encouraged to make an appointment with their healthcare provider.
• The user’s answers tell us their likely at low risk for back and neck pain at this time
  • Users with this result are encouraged to stay up-to-date on their risk factors and recommended screenings, and to consult with their healthcare provider if they have any questions.