This project tests a brief evidence-based video to help educate patients regarding effective and safe pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies for acute musculoskeletal pain (MSP). Subjects will be randomly placed into one of two study arms: intervention (educational video) and usual care. Patients will be contacted at baseline and at 1 and 3 months after the date of an emergency department (ED) or urgent care encounter for follow-up. The aim of this study is to evaluate the success of the intervention for improving pain recovery and preventing long-term opioid use among adults with musculoskeletal pain. The overarching hypothesis of this work is that complementing prescribing policies with patient education based on a shared decision-making approach to pain management can improve pain recovery and reduce progression to long-term opioid use. The proposed study is innovative because it will be the first clinical trial of a patient-centered intervention designed for the primary prevention of long-term opioid use.
This study will use a two-arm, blinded, randomized controlled trial to estimate the effect of the adapted telehealth video intervention on pain recovery and opioid use at 3 months among opioid-naïve adult Emergency Department (ED) and urgent care patients with musculoskeletal pain. This 2-year study will encompass the conduct and analysis of an assessor-blinded two-arm randomized controlled trial among 200 ED/urgent care patients with acute MSP. Randomization will be block stratified by the subject's age (18-40 years; 41+ years). To test the efficacy of the intervention subjects will be randomized to one of two arms: 1. Intervention (video) 2. Usual Care (standard care provided by ED/urgent care provider and staff) Intervention: The telehealth intervention consists of an interactive video (\~15 minutes) given to the patient after an ED/urgent care visit that provides essential pain treatment information and encourages patients to discuss treatment options with their ED/urgent care provider. Following the video, the participant will contact the research team with his/her answers to the multiple choice questions posed during the video and/or confirm having watched the video within, at most, 5 days of the participant's discharge / acute care visit. Evaluation: Data collection will occur for subjects in all arms of the study according to the schedule below: * Baseline after the ED/urgent care visit via phone call interview * 1 and 3 months after ED/urgent care discharge via phone call interview Outcomes follow-up: A phone call questionnaire will be performed at 1 and 3 months following patient discharge from the ED/urgent care for patients in all arms of the study. This questionnaire will be designed to evaluate current pain as well as average, maximum, and minimum pain in the past week. Additional questions will include opioid use, pain interference with general activity, walking, sleep, and enjoyment of life; side effects; return ED/urgent care visits for pain; and other health care utilization for pain.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
225
Development of the original video used a systematic approach that included a review of literature and current pain management guidelines and input from emergency physicians, geriatricians, and experts in pharmacology, physical therapy, and risk communication. The video offers information about the pharmacologic management of acute musculoskeletal pain (MSP) and recovery-promoting behaviors. Each video section is followed by a multiple-choice question to promote interaction and reinforce learning. The actress for the 13-minute video is a 56-year-old mixed-race woman who presents herself as a healthcare provider. The video script will typically be shown to the patient within 48-72 hours of the acute care visit, with a maximum window of 5 days post visit.
University of North Carolina Hospitals
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Combined Pain Severity and Interference Scores
The Brief Pain Inventory-short form (BPI-SF) is an 11-item measure of pain severity and pain interference. Patients will rate pain severity and interference over the past week on a 0-10 numeric scale at 3 discrete time periods (baseline, 1 month, and 3 months). End points for the severity items include 0 which equals "no pain" and 10 which equals "pain as bad as you can imagine." End points for the interference items include 0 which equals "does not interfere" and 10 "completely interferes." Higher scores reflect more pain severity and more pain interference. A composite score will be calculated by averaging scores from both the pain severity and interference items (all 11-items). Results from the 3 time periods will be analyzed longitudinally.
Time frame: Baseline (following ED or orthopedic urgent care visit) to month 3
Pain Severity on the BPI-SF
The BPI-SF is an 11-item measure of pain severity and pain interference with severity entailing 4 of the questions. Patient's will rate pain severity over the past week, on a 0-10 numeric rating scale, with a higher score reflecting more pain. End points include 0 which equals "no pain" and 10 which equals "pain as bad as you can imagine." Answers to each of the 4 questions will be reported for each time point (Month 1 and 3).
Time frame: Up to 3 months
Pain Interference on the BPI-SF
The BPI-SF is an 11-item measure of pain severity and pain interference with interference with daily activities entailing 7 of the questions. Patient's will rate pain interference over the past week, on a 0-10 scale with a higher score reflecting more interference with activities. End points include 0 which equals "does not interfere" and 10 which equals "completely interferes." The patient's pain interference score from month 1 and 3 will be reported.
Time frame: Up to 3 months
Opioid Use During the Past Week
Opioid use during the past week will be assessed by patient report and review of the patient's electronic health record at each of the follow-up time points. This will be a dichotomous outcome in which 'yes' will indicate opioid use in the past week and 'no' will indicate no opioid use in the past week. The patient's opioid use during the past week from month 1 and 3 will be reported.
Time frame: Up to 3 months
PROMIS Measure: Physical Function-4
Patient report of physical function will be measured at each of the follow-up time points using the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function-4 for chores, ability to use stairs, walking, and running errands on a 5-point scale with end points of "without any difficulty" and "unable to do". Higher scores reflect less difficulty. These values will be compared to the value obtained from the baseline assessment with patients reporting their function prior to injury. The patient's physical function assessment from month 1 and 3 will be reported.
Time frame: Up to 3 months
PROMIS Measure: Global Health-Physical 2a
Patient reported global health will be measured using the PROMIS Global Health-Physical 2a at each of the follow-up timepoints. General physical health is measured on a 5- point scale with end points of "excellent" and "poor," where higher scores reflect better physical health. Ability to carry out every day physical activities is measured on a 5 point scale with end points of "completely" and "not at all," where higher scores reflect better ability. These values will be compared to the value obtained from the baseline assessment with patients reporting global health prior to injury. The patient's global health assessment from month 1 and 3 will be reported.
Time frame: Up to 3 months
Healthcare Utilization, Number of Visits to ED/urgent care
The number of visits to an ED or urgent care for pain will be collected through patient report and the patient's electronic health record. Analysis will compare these outcomes among study arms. The patient's healthcare utilization, specifically ED/urgent care, from month 1 and 3 will be reported.
Time frame: Up to 3 months
Healthcare Utilization, Number of Visits to non-ED or Urgent Care Physicians
The number of visits to a physician's office for pain will be collected through patient report and the patient's electronic health record. Analysis will compare these outcomes among study arms. The patient's healthcare utilization, specifically non-ED or urgent care, from month 1 and 3 will be reported.
Time frame: Up to 3 months
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.