Equipping Patients Using Interventions for Pain and Depression (EQUIPD)

Indiana University

Status

Enrolling

Conditions

Musculoskeletal Pain

Chronic Pain

Depression

Health Equity

Treatments

Behavioral: Coaching and Decision Aid

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

NIH

Identifiers

NCT06500780

4R33NR020845-02 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

22412

Details and patient eligibility

About

This project is part of the NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative (https://heal.nih.gov/). This randomized controlled trial (RCT) is phase 2 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 trial will randomize 304 patients with comorbid chronic musculoskeletal pain and depression in primary care from an urban safety-net health system (Eskenazi). After the baseline assessment, patients randomized to the intervention will be asked to participate in 4 coaching sessions over approximately 12 weeks. Sessions will use 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 will be integrated into these sessions, which will facilitate discussion of these options with their PCP. The first 3 sessions take place prior to the patient's next scheduled PCP visit; the final session occurs after this visit. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, 3 months (i.e., after completing the final coaching session), and 6 months.

Patients randomized to the wait-list control group will receive usual care (in addition to study assessments at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months). After completing the final assessment, they will then be given the DA and offered a 20-minute coaching session to walk them through it.

Enrollment

304 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

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 or be willing to schedule one

Exclusion criteria

Patients are excluded:

if previously participated in Dr. Matthias' past pilot study (IRB #12885), the pilot RCT for this project (IRB #16571), or are participating as a Patient Engagement Panel member for this project (Aim 1.1),
if the eligibility screener or medical records indicate severe medical conditions likely precluding participation (e.g. stroke in the last 6 months, hospitalized with congestive heart failure or a heart attack in the last 6 months, cancer other than skin cancer and receiving active treatment), or
if the eligibility screener or medical records reveal (1) active suicidal ideation, or (2) severe hearing/speech or cognitive impairment.