Enhanced Psychological Support Navigator for Orthopedic Pain
Official title: Enhanced Navigation to Improve Pain-related Psychological Support and Resource Use in Orthopedics
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11371312 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A short program in orthopedic clinics aims to help people with high impact chronic pain by connecting them to simple mental-health resources and coaching, right in the care setting.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | August 13, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $444,125 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AT013400-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11371312 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with high impact chronic musculoskeletal pain seen in orthopedic clinics who have elevated pain-related psychological distress.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without elevated distress or those not interested in psychosocial resources may see little personal benefit.
What this research studies
In orthopedics, many patients with long-lasting pain also experience distress, but mental health support is often hard to access. This project tests a new Psychological Support and Resource Navigator that flags eligible patients in the electronic health record and then connects them to brief education, skills training, and help finding resources. The navigator may contact patients by phone, video, or in person to deliver three core elements: pain education, practical coping skills, and facilitation to appropriate resources. The study will measure how feasible and acceptable this approach is in real clinic workflows and its impact on patient-reported distress and satisfaction with care. If successful, it could pave the way for integrated mental health support as part of standard orthopedic pain management.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, patients could experience less distress and better overall pain management through easier access to psychological resources.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts suggest integrating mental health support into physical care can improve patient well-being, though this specific navigator approach in orthopedics is exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lentz, Trevor — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Lentz, Trevor
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Mobile app to help family caregivers in Thailand manage distress
A mobile app called CAMMA would help family members caring for adults with chronic illnesses in Thailand feel less depressed and anxious through a culturally tailored mental health support program.
-
SPOT: A brief measure to understand wellbeing for people with dementia and their caregivers
A new quick set of questions will help doctors and researchers understand the social and emotional wellbeing of people with dementia and their caregivers.
-
A Tablet-Based Emotion Regulation Program for Surrogate Decision-Makers of ICU Patients on Ventilation
A randomized trial tests a brief tablet program to help people who decide for ICU patients on ventilation feel less anxious and make better decisions.
-
KINDER: A new approach to help family caregivers prevent psychological elder abuse in dementia care
A study tests a caregiver-focused program designed to reduce psychological abuse by family members caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or related dementias.
-
Environmental and psychological stressors shaping anxiety, depression, and alcohol-related health issues in people with HIV
A patient-facing overview of how stress, mental health, and alcohol use interact with HIV to influence health and aging in people living with HIV.
-
A mental health support program integrated into HIV care for Kenyan adolescents and young people
A new program uses a brief, flexible mental health approach delivered by trained lay health workers to help Kenyan adolescents and young people with HIV manage depression, anxiety, and trauma alongside their HIV care.
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.