Peer Support Program for Chronic Pain

(PEEPS Trial)

Overseen By Jennifer L Snow, MSc

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Disqualifiers: Cognitive impairment, Communication difficulty, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 3 months

25 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Chronic non-cancer pain is common among Veterans, and more work is needed to understand how best to support Veterans with chronic pain to improve pain-related function and quality of life. Peer specialists may be valuable resource to support Veterans in pain management. Peer specialists, individuals with lived experience who are hired and trained to work with Veterans, are increasingly being used outside traditional mental health settings. More research is needed to understand how best to train peer specialists to work in new settings and with new presenting problems, such as chronic pain. Peer support to help Veterans improve pain-related function, increase physical activity, and engage in recommended pain care, is especially needed. In this study, the investigators will finalize a peer-led intervention and then pilot it with 24 Veterans with chronic pain in order to establish feasibility and acceptability; results will be used to develop a larger proposal testing the intervention in a randomized trial.

Research Team

Sara Edmond, PhD

Principal Investigator

VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for Veterans with chronic pain who are part of the VA Connecticut Healthcare System and have been referred to a Pain Management Team. Participants must experience high-impact chronic pain, be able to attend sessions in person or via video, but can't join if they have severe cognitive issues, communication difficulties, or impaired hearing/speech.

Inclusion Criteria

Willing/able to participate in sessions either in person or via video

Veteran receiving care from VA Connecticut Healthcare System

I have severe, long-term pain.

Exclusion Criteria

I have significant trouble thinking or communicating with others.

Inability to read or understand English

Severely impaired hearing or speech that would preclude them from participating in telephone interviews

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention Refinement

Refinement of the intervention protocol using intervention mapping

Not specified

Treatment

Participants work with a peer specialist for six 30-minute sessions

3 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for feasibility, acceptability, and function-focused outcomes

3 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• PEEPS

Trial Overview The study is testing a peer-led intervention called PEEPS designed to help Veterans manage their chronic pain better. It aims to enhance function, increase physical activity, and encourage engagement in recommended pain care through support from trained peers with similar experiences.

Participant Groups

Group I: peer specialist Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Work with a peer specialist for six 30-minute sessions

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

VA Office of Research and Development

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,691

Recruited

3,759,000+