title: Design of the integrative medical group visits randomized control trial for underserved patients with chronic pain and depression.
abstract: Given the public health crisis of opioid overprescribing for pain, there is a need for evidence-based non pharmacological treatment options that effectively reduce pain and depression. We aim to examine the effectiveness of the Integrative Medical Group Visits (IMGV) model in reducing chronic pain and depressive symptoms, as well as increasing pain self-management.
  
  
  
  This paper details the study design and implementation of an ongoing randomized controlled trial of the IMGV model as compared to primary care visits. The research aims to determine if the IMGV model is effective in achieving: a) a reduction in self-reported pain and depressive symptoms and 2) an improvement in the self-management of pain, through increasing pain self-efficacy and reducing use of self-reported pain medication. We intend to recruit 154 participants to be randomized in our intervention, the IMGV model (n=77) and to usual care (n=77).
  
  
  
  Usual care of chronic pain through pharmacological treatment has mixed evidence of efficacy and may not improve quality of life or functional status. We aim to conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the IMGV model as compared to usual care in reducing self-reported pain and depressive symptoms as well as increasing pain management skills.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States. Electronic address: paula.gardiner@bmc.org.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Anna Sophia
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lestoquoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gergen-Barnett
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Penti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Laura F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saper
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fredman
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stillman
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lily Negash
authors.affiliation: Codman Square Health Center, Dorchester, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adelstein
authors.affiliation: DotHouse Health Center, Dorchester, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Ivy
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brackup
authors.affiliation: Codman Square Health Center, Dorchester, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Farrell-Riley
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kabbara
authors.affiliation: Division of Graduate Medical Sciences, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Lance
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laird
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: College of Computer & Information Science, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bickmore
authors.affiliation: College of Computer & Information Science, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Ameneh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shamekhi
authors.affiliation: Clinical Addictions Research and Education Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine and Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Liebschutz
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006126:Group Processes; D006266:Health Education; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D055048:Integrative Medicine; D064866:Mindfulness; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D000073278:Self-Management; D012944:Social Support; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics
keywords: Integrative medicine; Medical group visits; Mindfulness; Mindfulness based stress reduction; Shared medical appointments; eHealth