Trial Outcomes & Findings for Measuring the Context of Healing in Chronic Pain Treatment (NCT NCT02873429)

Over a 1 year period, 218 persons beginning treatment for chronic pain at conventional medicine clinics (pain clinics, physical therapy, primary care) (n=105), and integrative medicine centers (n=113) were invited to complete online assessments at 3 time-points: Baseline, 2 month, and 4 month follow-up.

9 participants enrolled (completed consent) and did not continue in the study: 2 Integrative / Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) and 1 Conventional withdrew after signing consent form; 2 CAM and 4 Conventional did not meet eligibility criteria after signing consent form.

Measuring the Context of Healing in Chronic Pain Treatment

PROMIS Pain Intensity is a three item scale measuring the severity of pain at its worst (past week), average (past week), and current level using a five-point Likert-type scale (i.e., no pain=1, mild=2, moderate=3, severe=4, very severe=5). Scores on the 3 items are summed to create a raw score, which can range from 3 to 15. The raw score is converted to a T-score metric in which 50 is the mean of the relevant reference population and 10 is the standard deviation (SD) of that population.(see http://www.healthmeasures.net/promis-scoring-manuals for details ).

Computerized adaptive test measuring interference of pain in everyday functioning using five-point Likert-type scales with two types or response options (i.e., "not at all"=1, "a little bit"=2, "somewhat"=3, "quite a bit"=4, "very much"=5, and "never"=1, "rarely"=2, "sometimes"=3, "often"=4, "always"=5). Scores on the items are summed to create a raw score. The raw score is converted to a T-score metric in which 50 is the mean of the relevant reference population and 10 is the standard deviation (SD) of that population.(see http://www.healthmeasures.net for details of CAT administration and scoring).

Patient's rating of current symptom level compared to baseline assessment using a five-point bipolar scale: Much better(2), Somewhat better(1), No change(0), Somewhat worse(-1), Much worse(-2)