Feasibility of Telehealth Mindfulness for Back Pain in the Emergency Department

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Telehealth Mindfulness Intervention to Improve Outcomes of Patients With an Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Back Pain Presenting to the Emergency Department

While guideline-directed nonpharmacological strategies for chronic low back pain are well established, optimal chronic pain management for emergency department patients has yet to be defined. Mindfulness interventions can be used for management of chronic conditions, yet are understudied as a primary approach for patients with chronic pain discharged from the emergency department. Currently, there is limited evidence examining whether an individual telehealth mindfulness intervention is a feasible and acceptable for these patients. This study will develop, pilot, and evaluate the feasibility and effects of an 8-session (12-week) telehealth mindfulness intervention for patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic low back pain

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18 years or older;
2. Presenting to the emergency department to address a chief complaint of an acute exacerbation of chronic low back pain;
3. Meets NIH-supported definition of chronic low back pain (e.g., pain greater than 3 months that has resulted in pain on at least half the days in the past 6 months); and
4. English-speaking due to feasibility of utilizing a telehealth mindfulness program developed in English

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients requiring hospitalization for a medical severe condition or comorbidity;
2. Patients with a severe psychiatric or behavioral diagnosis or presenting symptoms, including psychosis, delirium, active suicidal ideation, or who screen positive on the Columbia Suicide Screening;
3. Patients with a history of multiple substance use or abuse;
4. Patients involved in litigation related to the chronic pain condition; and
5. Patients who are unable to comply with the telehealth intervention (i.e., unable to provide stable home address or access telehealth link on a mobile device or computer).