N/A
Completed N=120
The Positive Piggy Bank - A Positive Activities Intervention for Improving Functional Status in Patients With Back Pain
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02476812 ↗Enrolled (actual)
120
Serious AEs
1.7%
Results posted
Mar 2026
Primary outcomePrimary: Change in Functional Status Measured by Oswestry Disability Questionnaire — 41.5; 39.0; 37.1; 32.8 units on a scale
Summary
Investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial of a 30-day positive activities intervention, Positive Piggy Bank, compared to a Wait-List control group (Figure 2). Prior to their scheduled appointment to undergo epidural steroid injection, all patients meeting study criteria will be contacted by research staff to be invited to participate in this study. Those interested will be asked to arrive 45 minutes before their regularly scheduled appointment. At that time they will learn more about the study and provide informed consent if they choose to participate. Participants will then complete the study questionnaires and be randomized 1:1 to the Positive Piggy Bank condition (n=100) or the Wait List control group (n = 100). All participants will receive the usual treatment provided at the Back & Pain Center at the University of Michigan, Department of Anesthesiology (e.g., maintenance of medication regimen, standard office visits). Post-intervention (Day 30) and 2 months after that (Day 90), participants will complete the same questionnaires by mail. The primary outcome will be improved functional status, while secondary outcomes will be symptomatic (i.e., pain, fatigue and sleep) and related to mood and well-being. After the study period, the patients in the Wait List control will be offered the Positive Piggy Bank intervention and will be asked to complete one more set of questionnaires at 30 days by mail.
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Change in Functional Status Measured by Oswestry Disability Questionnaire |
41.5; 39.0; 37.1; 32.8; 38.7; 33.6 | — |
| SECONDARY Change in Pain Severity - Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) |
6.1; 5.7; 5.2; 4.7 | — |
| SECONDARY Change in Fatigue. PROMIS Fatigue - Short Form 4a |
12.1; 11.2; 11.4; 10.5 | — |
| SECONDARY Change in Perceived Sleep Problems - PROMIS -Sleep Disturbance (PROMIS-SD4a) |
12.3; 12.4; 11.6; 11.6 | — |
| SECONDARY Change in Depression and Anxiety- Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) |
7.0; 5.7; 6.3; 5.2; 6.5; 4.9 | — |
| SECONDARY Change in Happiness - Subjective Happiness Scale. |
20.8; 21.5; 20.2; 20.3 | — |
| SECONDARY Change in Subjective Well-Being Affect - Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) |
29.8; 30.0; 18.7; 17.2; 30.5; 30.8 | — |
| SECONDARY Change in Subjective Well-Being Life Satisfaction - Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) |
22.1; 23.9; 22.2; 22.1 | — |
| SECONDARY Change in Fibromyalgia Symptoms - Fibromyalgia Survey Criteria |
10.8; 9.8; 9.9; 8.4 | — |
| SECONDARY Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) |
2; 0; 11; 0; 13; 2 | — |
| SECONDARY Change in Patient Satisfaction - Patient Satisfaction Numeric Rating Scale |
8.4; 8.0; 8.3; 7.7 | — |
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Primary diagnosis of back pain and schedule to undergo an epidural steroid injection. :
- ages 18 to 80;
- able to read/understand English and give consent;
- willing and able to comply with all aspects of study procedures;
- if on antidepressants, medications stable for ≥4 weeks prior to study;
- no plan to initiate a new non-pharmacological pain intervention during the 30-day study period (e.g., back surgery, physical therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy);
- if on pain medications, medications stable for ≥4 weeks prior to study and no plans to switch medications during the 30-day study period.
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Exclusion Criteria: Participants may meet all criteria above, but will be excluded under the following additional conditions:
- having a known psychotic disorder or the presence of another psychiatric condition (e.g., severe depression, suicidal ideation) or cognitive impairment (e.g., severe dyslexia, traumatic brain injury) limiting ability to give consent and/or participate fully in the study;
- currently undergoing psychotherapeutic care at the Back & Pain Center;
- other factors that at the discretion of the investigators would adversely affect study participation. We will not exclude participants who undergo unanticipated changes in treatment, but will handle these data as described later.
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Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02476812). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication. Informational only — not medical advice.