Improving pain management for chronic back pain using telehealth in community clinics
Nonpharmacologic Pain Management in FQHC Primary Care Clinics
This study is testing two different telehealth approaches to help people with chronic back pain in community clinics manage their pain better and reduce their need for opioids.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 500 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Utah Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Salt Lake City, Utah and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT04923334 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This clinical trial aims to enhance pain management and reduce reliance on opioids for patients with chronic back pain in Utah's Federally-Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). It compares two nonpharmacologic treatment strategies delivered via telehealth: one involves a brief pain teleconsult followed by a 10-week telehealth physical therapy, while the other uses an adaptive approach based on patient response. The study also gathers implementation data to inform future scaling of effective strategies in low-resource healthcare settings. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and at 12, 26, and 52 weeks post-intervention.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18-80 with chronic back pain who have visited an FQHC provider in the past 90 days.
Not a fit: Patients who are currently pregnant, have a recent history of spine surgery, or have conditions that restrict physical activity may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide effective pain management alternatives for patients, reducing the need for opioid medications.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using telehealth for pain management, indicating that this approach may be effective.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Able to communicate in English or Spanish * Age between 18-80 * Visit with an FQHC provider (in-person or via telehealth) in past 90 days * Back pain has been an ongoing problem for at least the past 3 months, and has been a problem on at least half the days in the past 6 months * Access to resources necessary to receive telehealth sessions (phone or 2-way video) Exclusion Criteria: * Currently pregnant * Currently involved in active substance use disorder treatment (other than peer support groups, AA, etc.) * History of spine surgery in past 6 months * Has a condition restricting participation in physical activity (i.e., unable to ambulate independently (with or without assistive device) for at least 5 minutes. * Reason for back pain is a fracture or non-musculoskeletal condition (i.e., spinal tumor, inflammatory disorder, etc.)
Where this trial is running
Salt Lake City, Utah and 1 other locations
- Association of Utah Community Health — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States (Recruiting)
- The University of Utah Healthcare System — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States (Recruiting)
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.