Piloting a Novel Peer Support Pain Self-Management Intervention (Project CONNECT)
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
The proposed study will test the feasibility and acceptability of an 8-week home-based reciprocal peer support pain self-management intervention (CONNECT) for women Veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain. The use of this format will improve the accessibility of treatment to women Veterans who experience logistical, healthcare delivery and psychosocial barriers to care. To address these barriers women Veterans who enroll in CONNECT will be paired and work together to learn/practice pain coping skills, set meaningful activity goals, and participate in a graduated walking program; they will exchange nightly text messages and engage in a weekly 20 minute phone call to reinforce each other and provide support for pain self-management efforts. This is a single-arm pilot project; all eligible and interested women with chronic musculoskeletal pain will receive CONNECT. The primary outcome will be post-treatment and long-term follow-up retention rates.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
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N/A |
Detailed Description
Objectives: The primary purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a reciprocal peer support pain self-management intervention (CONNECT) for women Veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain. The primary hypothesis states that the post-treatment and long-term follow-up retention rates will not be less than 80% which is the lowest rate obtained in a behavioral pain trial and comparable to peer support interventions. Several secondary feasibility and acceptability hypotheses are proposed and include: a) rates of successful dyad connection will be greater than or equal to 80%, b) nightly assessment completion rates will meet or exceed the previously established 85% completion rate, c) reported rates of skill practice will meet or exceed 65% consistent with other behavioral pain trials, d) mean intervention satisfaction and credibility ratings will meet or exceed 80% d) 80% or more of participants will report favorable ratings of their peer. A responder analysis will also be completed to determine the percentage of participants who report clinically meaningful reductions in pain intensity and pain interference (as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory- Short Form) and depressive symptoms (as defined by a reduction of 5 or more points on the Patient Health Questionnaire-8). Additional qualitative objectives will solicit participant opinions of candidate control conditions for a future trial.
Research Design: A non-randomized pilot design will be employed. All eligible and interested participants will participate in a week-long behavioral run-in period. Those who successfully navigate it will receive CONNECT. Repeated assessments of key outcome domains will occur at baseline, and at 10 and 22 weeks after intervention start.
Methodology: Participants will be 45 women Veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain receiving care at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System and VA Central Western Massachusetts. Interested and eligible Veterans will be verbally consented before participating in a brief telephone based qualitative interview and a 1-week behavioral run-in period designed to mimic demands of the intervention/study. Women who successfully navigate the run-in (estimate n=30) will participate in a telephone orientation with their peer and proceed through the 8-week CONNECT intervention. Together, pairs will learn one new pain coping skill each week, participate in a graduated walking program (using a study provided pedometer), and set meaningful activity goals. They will provide reinforcement and support for these activities via text messages and 1 weekly (15 minute call). Study staff will provide periodic feedback on their progress.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Other: Pilot Arm: Project CONNECT 8-week home based reciprocal peer support pain self-management program for chronic musculoskeletal pain |
Behavioral: Project CONNECT
Home based pain self-management intervention using peer reinforcement to promote engagement and skill uptake
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Feasibility: Retention [3 months post baseline]
Post-treatment follow-up retention rates and their 95% confidence intervals. These will be compared to 80%, which is the lowest rate obtained in a behavioral pain trial and comparable to peer support interventions
- Feasibility: Long-term Retention [6 months post-baseline]
Long-term follow-up retention rates and their 95% confidence intervals. These will be compared to 80%, which is the lowest rate obtained in a behavioral pain trial and comparable to peer support interventions
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Feasibility: Dyad Connection [3 months post baseline]
Rates of successful dyad connection will be compared to 80% (comparable to other Reciprocal Peer Support interventions)
- Feasibility: Diary Completion Rates [3 months post baseline]
Nightly assessment completion rates and their 95% confidence intervals will be compared to other Veteran behavioral pain trials demonstrating an 85% completion rate.
- Feasibility: Skill Practice Rates [3 months post baseline]
Skill practice rates and their 95% confidence intervals will also be compared to 65% consistent with rates reported in similar pain trials.
- Acceptability: Satisfaction & Credibility [3 months post baseline]
Mean intervention satisfaction and credibility ratings and their 95% confidence intervals will be compared to 80% which is the standard for behavioral pain trials
- Acceptability: Peer Matching [3 months post baseline]
Favorable experience with peer ratings and their 95% confidence intervals will be compared with 80% which is comparable to other reciprocal peer support interventions
- Exploratory: Responder Analysis [3 months post baseline]
A responder analysis will be completed to determine percent of subjects achieving a clinically meaningful reduction in pain intensity, pain interference and depression. For both the Brief Pain Inventory Pain Intensity and Pain Interference subscales, a 30% reduction is defined as clinically meaningful. For depressive symptoms, a reduction of 5 points on the Patient Health questionnaire-8 is considered clinically meaningful
- Exploratory: Long-term Responder Analysis [6 months post baseline]
A responder analysis will be completed to determine percent of subjects achieving a clinically meaningful reduction in pain intensity, pain interference and depression. For both the Brief Pain Inventory Pain Intensity and Pain Interference subscales, a 30% reduction is defined as clinically meaningful. For depressive symptoms, a reduction of 5 points on the Patient Health questionnaire-8 is considered clinically meaningful
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
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Women Veteran receiving care at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System or VA Central Western Massachusetts
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Possession of a cell phone with no limits on utilization and willingness to engage in regular phone/text interactions with a peer partner
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Moderate-Severe musculoskeletal pain
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Pain on at least half of the days of the prior six months
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Primary care provider or mental health provider clearance
Exclusion Criteria:
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Life threatening conditions that could impede participation
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Sensory deficits that would impair participation in telephone calls
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Current or pending surgical interventions
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Presence of any mental health condition that would impair ability to engage in treatment or serve as a suitable peer as defined by:
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diagnosis
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screening measures
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT | West Haven | Connecticut | United States | 06516 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- VA Office of Research and Development
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System
- Yale University
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Mary Driscoll, PhD, VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- CDX 19-003
- CDA 18-005