Choices for Managing Chronic Pain Without Medications
Official title: Options for Pain Management using Nonpharmacological Strategies (OPTIONS)
Funded at Rlr VA Medical Center · NIH-11225071 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project gives Veterans with chronic pain a decision tool and a coach to help pick and stick with non-drug pain treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rlr VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | November 1, 2022 |
| Project end | October 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003402-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11225071 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans with chronic pain who are interested in trying nonpharmacological treatments or reducing opioid use.
✕Less likely to help
People with only short-term (acute) pain, those unwilling to try non-drug treatments, or those needing immediate surgical or medical interventions may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You would use a decision aid that explains different nonpharmacological pain treatments and helps you compare options based on your goals and lifestyle. You'd also work with a trained coach who uses motivational interviewing to boost your confidence, prepare you to talk with your VA providers, and support ongoing use of chosen treatments. The team tailors recommendations to common Veteran-level barriers and tracks whether these supports increase uptake and adherence to non-drug therapies. The aim is to make it easier for Veterans to try evidence-based options like physical therapy, cognitive approaches, and other non-medication strategies instead of relying on opioids.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help Veterans manage chronic pain better using non-drug approaches and reduce reliance on opioid medications.
How similar studies have gone: Nonpharmacological treatments have shown benefit for chronic pain, but using a tailored decision aid plus coaching to boost uptake and adherence is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Rlr VA Medical Center
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bair, Matthew John — Rlr VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Bair, Matthew John
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.