Toolkit to help employees manage chronic pain at work

Multicentre Pragmatic Cluster Randomised Controlled Feasibility Trial to Assess Potential Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness of the Pain at Work Toolkit in Employees With Chronic or Persistent Pain

Not applicable Interventional University of Nottingham · NCT05838677

This study is testing a new toolkit to see if it can help employees with chronic pain manage their symptoms better while at work.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment120 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Nottingham Academic / other
Locations1 site (Nottingham)
Trial IDNCT05838677 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This project tests the feasibility and acceptability of the Pain at Work (PAW) Toolkit, designed to assist employees in self-managing chronic pain while at work. The study will involve a multicentre pragmatic cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial, where organizations will be randomized to receive either the PAW Toolkit with occupational therapist support or standard treatment. The goal is to evaluate whether the toolkit improves health, wellbeing, and productivity among employees suffering from chronic pain. This feasibility study will inform the design of a larger trial to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the intervention.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are working-age adults aged 18 and over who experience chronic pain that interferes with their work.

Not a fit: Patients who are unemployed or do not have chronic pain will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this toolkit could significantly enhance the quality of life and work productivity for employees with chronic pain.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success with similar interventions aimed at managing chronic pain in workplace settings, indicating potential for positive outcomes.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria (Organisations)

* organisations in England
* organisations with 10 or more employees.

Inclusion Criteria (Employee participants)

* working-age adults (employees)
* aged 18 and over
* self-reported chronic pain interfering with their ability to undertake or enjoy productive work
* able to comprehend English language
* able to provide informed consent.
* access to the internet to be able to access the web-based intervention and online surveys for data collection.

Exclusion Criteria (Organisations)

* organisations outside of England
* micro-organisations with fewer than 10 employees

Exclusion Criteria (Employee participants)

* unemployed at recruitment
* under 18 years of age
* no chronic pain at recruitment
* unable to comprehend English language
* unable to provide informed consent

Where this trial is running

Nottingham

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Chronic PainPain, Chronic
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.