Peer story videos to help older adults manage chronic musculoskeletal pain
Official title: Development and preliminary testing of a peer narrative video intervention for older adults with chronic pain
Funded at Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri) · NIH-11196214 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Short videos of peers sharing how they used acceptance and mindfulness skills will teach older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain ways to cope and stay active.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $777,114 |
| NIH project number | 4RF1AG089083-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11196214 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults with ongoing musculoskeletal pain (for example, back pain, osteoarthritis, or fibromyalgia) who are interested in learning coping skills through brief video stories.
✕Less likely to help
People who need intensive one-on-one psychotherapy, have severe cognitive impairment, or cannot access or watch video materials may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You would watch short videos of other older adults telling personal stories about living with back pain, osteoarthritis, or fibromyalgia and how they used Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) strategies like mindfulness and values-driven action. The research team will create these peer narratives and pilot the videos with older adults to see if they are acceptable and easy to use. During the preliminary test, participants will view the videos and report on coping, daily activity, and satisfaction with the program. Results will be used to refine the videos for future, larger studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide an easy-to-use, low-cost video program that helps older adults cope better with chronic pain and re-engage in meaningful activities.
How similar studies have gone: ACT-based therapies have shown benefit for chronic pain in prior trials, but delivering ACT via peer narrative videos is a newer approach with limited prior testing.
Where this research is happening
-
Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri)
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Uebelacker, Lisa a — Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri)
- Study coordinator: Uebelacker, Lisa a
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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.