Group-Based Integrative Pain Management: Feasibility of a Factorial Randomized Trial in Safety-Net Primary Care

This pilot study tested the feasibility and acceptability of a pragmatic randomized trial evaluating group-based non-pharmacologic approaches to increase access in primary care and improve pain-related outcomes.

This 2 × 2 factorial trial assessed two 12-week interventions: group acupuncture and integrative group medical visits (IGMVs). Adults with chronic pain lasting ≥3 months were enrolled from safety-net primary care clinics. Participants were randomized to group acupuncture, IGMVs, both, or neither (usual care). We analyzed data using linear mixed models, ANCOVA, and abductive qualitative analysis.

Overall, 44 participants were randomized (25 English-speaking and 19 Spanish-speaking); 59% were female (mean age = 55 years), 21% African American or Black, 52% Latine, 21% non-Latine White, and 5% more than 1 race; and 78% had annual income <$25 000. At baseline, the average duration of chronic pain was 13.0 years, and the mean pain impact score was 36.0 (SD = 6.4). Participants randomized to interventions attended 6 of 12 sessions on average; 89% would participate again; and 86% reported clinically relevant pain improvements versus 20% in usual care (P < .001). Qualitative data revealed substantial barriers to accessing multimodal care and social benefits of group-based models.

Group-based integrative pain management is feasible and acceptable when co-located within safety-net primary care.Clinicaltrials.gov Registration Number: NCT05906784 (http://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05906784).