Lay health workers may ease pain in seniors without pills
NCT ID NCT05278234
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether community health workers (CHWs) can teach older adults with chronic pain how to manage their symptoms using a 7-week program called STEPS. The program included phone sessions with a CHW, online videos, and a wearable activity tracker. Researchers enrolled 414 mostly African American older adults in Detroit to see if the program reduced pain interference in daily life compared to usual care.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- behavioral intervention: community health worker-delivered pain self-management program (STEPS) with wearable activity tracker
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could provide a low-cost, scalable way to help older adults in underserved communities better manage chronic pain without relying solely on medication.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed efficacy trial, but results may not apply to all populations. The intervention relies on participant engagement and technology access, which could limit effectiveness for some individuals.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for CHRONIC PAIN are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Mind-Body physio program aims to tackle chronic pain and depression together
- Can we decode the different types of pain in multiple sclerosis?
- Can yoga ease the pain of endometriosis after surgery?
- A simple pressure test before surgery might reveal your risk of chronic pain
- Rewiring the brain to fight back pain?
- Can a pain drug help you walk better with knee arthritis?