Background: Mass media influence peoples' attitudes and conduct. We set out to investigate what Norwegian mass media write about back pain and whether this information is in accordance with national interdisciplinary guidelines for low back pain (published in 2002).
Material and methods: Quantitative content analysis of 495 news stories from Norwegian newspapers and magazines published in 2001-03 and 2005-06.
Results: Most publications were about a single case. Risk factors for low back pain, examinations, treatment and prevention were frequent topics. No publication was in direct disagreement with the clinical guidelines. Dependent on the media type, 44 to 62 % of the publications supported the guidelines' main messages of regaining daily normal activities, including work and exercises, as soon as possible.
Interpretation: Norwegian mass media communicate evidence-based information about low back pain to a large extent. We regard these media as collaborators in the communication of important recommendations in guidelines about low back pain.