Can online or Coach-Led sessions ease chronic pain? study finds out.
NCT ID NCT04523714
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested two types of telehealth programs for people with chronic pain: an online self-guided program and live sessions led by a health coach via phone or video. Over 2,300 adults from four healthcare systems took part. The goal was to see if these programs could help reduce pain severity by at least 30% after 3 and 6 months.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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2,333 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2021
- Finished
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Aug 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
INCLUSION CRITERIA Electronic Health Record-based inclusion criteria: * Active/enrolled in one of the 4 participating integrated health care systems at the time of query and for the prior 360 days * Age 18 years or older (based on date of birth documented in EHR) * English speaking or do not need interpreter services * Have at least one \[at Essentia\] or at least two which are \>60 days apart \[at KP sites\] outpatient pain-related health care encounter with nonmalignant musculoskeletal pain diagnoses \[as determined by ICD10 codes for any of the following: back-neck-, limb/extremity-, joint-pain, arthritic disorders, fibromyalgia, headache, orofacial/temporomandibular pain, or musculoskeletal pain\] within the past 360 days * Do not have an encounter for surgery related to common musculoskeletal pain conditions (e.g., joint replacement, spinal fusion, carpal tunnel release surgery) \[as determined by CPT and/or ICD-10 codes\] within the past 60 days * Do not have two or more separate encounters with a malignant cancer diagnosis other than non-melanoma skin cancer \[as determined by ICD-10 codes\] within past 60 days * Do not have ICD-10 code(s), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) or department/provider encounters indicating receipt of hospice or other palliative care within the past 360 days * Do not have ICD-10 codes indicating severe cognitive impairment precluding participation in a behavioral/ lifestyle change program * Note: At the KPWA site only, one additional EHR-based exclusion criterion will be applied, which is: Do not have ICD-10 codes indicating opioid use disorder (OUD). This criterion is being applied because there is another HEAL study being conducted at KPWA that focuses on treating individuals with pain and OUD specifically.\] Patient-reported inclusion criteria: * Have high-impact chronic pain (as indicated by self-report of having pain on most or every day in past 3 months and pain limiting life or work activities on most or every day in past 3 months) * Have persistent pain (as indicated by self-report Pain, Enjoyment of Life and General Activity (PEG) score of ≥ 12) * Be able to participate in either of the active interventions (i.e., have internet and phone access required for accessing treatments) EXCLUSION CRITERIA (patient-reported): * Have received CBT for pain or pain-related psychoeducation or behavioral skills training within in the past 6 months (in-person, by phone or videoconference, or online) * Currently receiving or will be starting CBT for pain or pain-related psychoeducation or behavioral skills training in the next month (in-person, by phone or videoconference, or online) * Currently receiving or will be starting inpatient or intensive outpatient services for substance use disorder in the next month * Have a planned/scheduled surgery in next 12 months related to pain condition
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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
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Essentia Institute of Rural Health
Duluth, Minnesota, 55805, United States
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Kaiser Permanente Georgia, Center for Research and Evaluation
Atlanta, Georgia, 30309, United States
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Kaiser Permanente Northwest Center for Health Research
Portland, Oregon, 97227, United States
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Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute
Seattle, Washington, 98101, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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