Development of a Digital Multimodal Pain Intervention (CHRONIC): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial Study

Area of Science:

• Digital health interventions
• Chronic pain management
• Multimodal therapy

Background:

• Chronic pain affects 12 million in Germany, impairing quality of life.
• Multimodal treatment is gold standard but faces access barriers like long waiting times.
• Digital health offers scalable, low-threshold solutions for chronic pain management.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the CHRONIC web-based program for chronic pain.
• Assess CHRONIC's impact on pain intensity, pain-related interference, and quality of life.
• Investigate CHRONIC as a scalable, low-threshold digital intervention.

Main Methods:

• 12-week, 3-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 200 participants.
• Intervention groups receive individualized or standardized feedback; control is waitlist.
• Weekly modules include psychotherapy, ACT/CBT exercises, mindfulness, and physiotherapy.

Main Results:

• Recruitment ongoing; 18 participants enrolled as of January 2026.
• Primary endpoint data collection expected by January 2027.
• Primary analyses and dissemination planned for 2027.

Conclusions:

• The study protocol outlines an RCT for the digital CHRONIC program.
• CHRONIC integrates psychotherapeutic, physiotherapeutic, and mindfulness strategies.
• Findings aim to inform digital health developments and biopsychosocial care models.