Our Whole Lives Gemini: Virtual Integrative Medical Group Visits for Managing Chronic Pain

Phase II: GEMINI: Virtual Integrative Medical Group Visits for Managing Chronic Pain

The goal of this research study is to test the efficacy of a non-prescription medicine, web-based platform solution for patients with chronic pain, to improve pain self-management and related outcomes. The main question investigators aim to answer is; would the use of this web-based intervention plus an online group visit compared to control result in better pain-related outcomes and improved pain impact?

This study has 6 mandatory components and 1 optional component:

• Recruitment Screening Call
• Informed Consent Session
• Baseline Survey Session
• Intervention: Engagement with the Our Whole Lives (OWL) an e-health platform: For 9 weeks, participants will all have access to a mindfulness program within OWL, optimized for people with chronic pain.
• Live-Online Mindfulness Group weekly
• Control: Low dose engagement with OWL with no group engagement.
• Follow-Up Survey Sessions at Week 10, Week 16, and Week 24.
• Online Focus Group/Individual Interview. Participants will be asked to participate in an OPTIONAL individual interview, or a one-hour focus group with other participants in the study who used the OWL website as well.

Researchers will compare two groups that will be using the web-based platform. Each group will have different engagement content from the web-based platform and investigators will see if it affects overall chronic pain and pain management.

Inclusion Criteria:

• English-speaking adults
• Over the age of 18
• Experiencing chronic musculoskeletal pain. (Pain may have more than one source; Pain must be non-malignant; Participant must have an average pain intensity of ≥ 4 (1 out of 10) in the past 7 days; Participant must meet the chronic criteria of a pain problem that has persisted at least 3 months, and has resulted in pain on at least half the days in the past 6 months)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to understand English at a level necessary for informed consent and understanding participation instructions, and participating in the group;
• Serious underlying systemic or co-morbid conditions or life event that precludes physical or cognitive ability to participate in the study.
• Severe depression
• Current mania or psychosis;
• Active heroin or cocaine use in the past 3 months
• Heavy alcohol use
• Known or planned pregnancy