Study Comparing Two Whole-Person, Non-Drug Treatments for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Military Health System Adults

What this Trial Is About

Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a common and growing concern within the Military Health System MHS. Researchers are evaluating two whole-person, non-drug approaches to pain care, comparing these holistic health interventions to usual care in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. The aim is to find effective ways to improve pain management using team-based care and support for self-management within a stepped care model. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups Empowered Relief ER, Move to Health M2H, or Usual Care UC. ER involves a single, 2-hour virtual session teaching pain education, relaxation techniques, and self-management planning. M2H is a virtual health coaching program with multiple sessions over up to 8 weeks to encourage healthy behavior changes. Usual Care follows the participants primary care providers recommendations without added study interventions. Non-responders to ER may receive M2H as a second phase of treatment. Participants attend assessments at baseline, 14, 26, and 52 weeks. Researchers measure pain impact primarily using a self-reported 3-PEG scale after 14 weeks, with additional measures including physical function, sleep disturbance, depression, fatigue, medication misuse, and pain-related beliefs assessed through 52 weeks. Health care use data is collected from military health records to evaluate implementation outcomes. The total study duration for each participant is about one year.

The PROmoting Pain Self-Management (PROs) Trial: Holistic Pain Care in the Military Health System