N/A
Completed N=30
Equity Using Interventions for Pain and Depression - Pilot Study
Postoperative Pain · Depression · Health Equity
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05695209 ↗
Enrolled (actual)
30
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Jun 2025
Primary outcomePrimary: Change From Baseline Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Interference Scale at 3 Months — -1.02; -0.30 units on a scale
Summary
This project is part of the NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative (https://heal.nih.gov/). This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) is part of phase 1 of a two-phase, 5-year project with the overarching goal of testing a decision aid (DA)/coaching intervention, tailored to Black patients with comorbid chronic pain and depression, to encourage use of and adherence to nonpharmacological pain treatments (NPTs).
This 2-arm pilot trial randomized 30 Black patients with comorbid chronic musculoskeletal pain and depression in primary care from an urban safety-net health system. After the baseline assessment, patients randomized to the intervention were asked to participate in 4 coaching sessions over approximately 12 weeks. Sessions used Motivational Interviewing principles to foster openness to NPTs and self-efficacy by helping patients identify their goals and priorities, understand their NPT options, prepare them to discuss and choose options with their primary care providers (PCPs), and reinforce these choices to foster maintenance of these changes. DA contents were integrated into these sessions, which facilitated discussion of these options with their PCP. The first 3 sessions ideally took place prior to the patient's next scheduled PCP visit; the final session occurred after this visit. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 3 months (i.e., after completing the final coaching session), and 6 months.
Patients randomized to the wait-list control group received usual care (in addition to study assessments at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months). After completing the final assessment, they were given the DA and offered a 20-minute coaching session to walk them through it (patients could decline the coaching session).
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Change From Baseline Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Interference Scale at 3 Months |
-1.02; -0.30 | — |
| PRIMARY Change From Baseline Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Interference Scale at 6 Months |
-1.75; -1.14 | — |
| SECONDARY Change From Baseline Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-8 at 3 Months |
-2.36; -0.77 | — |
| SECONDARY Change From Baseline Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-8 at 6 Months |
-2.15; -0.46 | — |
| SECONDARY Change From Baseline Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) at 3 Months |
-3.29; -0.08 | — |
| SECONDARY Change From Baseline Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) at 6 Months |
-3.23; -0.23 | — |
| SECONDARY Change From Baseline Pain Catastrophizing Scale at 3 Months |
-4.31; 3.54 | — |
| SECONDARY Change From Baseline Pain Catastrophizing Scale at 6 Months |
-5.00; -2.12 | — |
| SECONDARY Change From Baseline Altarum Consumer Engagement (ACE) Measure at 3 Months |
2.64; -2.04 | — |
| SECONDARY Change From Baseline Altarum Consumer Engagement (ACE) Measure at 6 Months |
4.29; -0.24 | — |
| SECONDARY Change From Baseline Use of Nonpharmacological and Self-Care Approaches (NSCAP) at 3 Months |
0.23; -0.46 | — |
| SECONDARY Change From Baseline Use of Nonpharmacological and Self-Care Approaches (NSCAP) at 6 Months |
0.38; 0.54 | — |
| SECONDARY Change From Baseline Perceived Efficacy in Patient-Physician Interactions Scale (PEPPI-5) at 3 Months |
0.08; 2.08 | — |
| SECONDARY Change From Baseline Perceived Efficacy in Patient-Physician Interactions Scale (PEPPI-5) at 6 Months |
1.46; 0.15 | — |
| SECONDARY Change From Baseline CollaboRATE at 3 Months |
0.26; -0.13 | — |
| SECONDARY Change From Baseline CollaboRATE at 6 Months |
0.26; -0.05 | — |
| SECONDARY Change From Baseline Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) Client Short Form at 3 Months |
3.67; -5.54 | — |
| SECONDARY Change From Baseline Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) Client Short Form at 6 Months |
5.69; -2.38 | — |
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
Eligible patients must:
- have musculoskeletal pain in the low back, cervical spine, or extremities (hip, knee, shoulder) for ≥3 months,
- have at least moderate pain intensity and interference with function, defined by a score ≥4 (possible range: 0-10) on the Pain, Enjoyment of Life and General Activity scale (PEG), a 3-item measure of pain intensity, interference with enjoyment of life, and interference with general activity,
- have at least mild depression, defined as PHQ-8 score ≥5,
- identify as Black or African American,
- have consistent access to a telephone,
- indicate openness to new pain treatments, and
- have a scheduled appointment with their PCP in the next approximate 2-4 months
Exclusion Criteria
Patients are excluded:
- if previously participated in the PI's past pilot study (IRB #12885) or participation as a Patient Engagement Panel member for this project,
- if medical records indicate severe medical conditions likely precluding participation (e.g., NY Heart Association Class III or IV heart failure), or
- if the eligibility screener reveals (1) active suicidal ideation, or (2) severe hearing/speech or cognitive impairment.
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05695209). 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.