# Evidence-Based Pain Intervention for Veterans: Leveraging Mobile & Social Media

> **NIH NIH R44** · PRO-CHANGE BEHAVIOR SYSTEMS, INC. · 2020 · $98,026

## Abstract

Chronic musculoskeletal pain creates a significant public health burden, and Veterans are
disproportionately affected. The frequency and extent of co-occurrence of pain and PTSD, pain
and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), all three conditions (Post-deployment Multi-symptom
Disorder (PMD), and other multi-symptom syndromes can complicate and reduce the
effectiveness of pain treatment. Furthermore, the majority of Veterans do not seek care in VA
settings, requiring an approach that will be available to all Veterans. The Blueprint for Relieving
Pain in America and National Pain Strategy call for the promotion of self-management; reducing
disparities among vulnerable subgroups (e.g., Veterans); and the tailoring of pain care.
Proponents of integrated treatment for common co-morbid conditions are advocating for
interventions that address multiple conditions. This Phase II proposal builds on a successful
NACTS-funded Phase I SBIR that developed and pilot tested a theoretically-grounded, mobile-
optimized, interactive pain self-management intervention for Veterans with chronic
musculoskeletal pain. Health eRide: Your Journey to Managing Pain 1) was tailored specifically
to Veterans' readiness and preferred strategies for pain self-management; 2) leveraged SMS
messaging, social networking, and gaming principles to increase engagement and retention; and
3) helped to address the co-occurrence of PTSD and TBI by including health behavior change
messages for sleep hygiene and stress management. At 30-day follow-up, participants (n=44)
reported significant reductions in pain and pain impact, as well as increased readiness to employ
self-management strategies. Over 68% of participants reported favorable global impression of
change. Phase II will involve 1) completing the development of Health eRide by transforming it
into an app and enhancing its functionality for mobile browsers, enhancing the social
networking and gaming features, and adding e-coaching capabilities; and 2) conducting a year-
long randomized trial in which 540 Veterans with chronic pain recruited from both VA facilities
and the community are randomly assigned to Health eRide or an online educational cognitive-
behavioral therapy intervention. Differences in pain intensity and interference will be examined
at 6 months (immediately post-intervention) and 12-months. A number of secondary analyses
will be conducted to examine the impact Health eRide has on other outcomes (e.g., PTSD
symptoms). A successful trial will set the stage for widespread dissemination of an efficacious,
easily accessible tailored pain self-management intervention to address an urgent need among
our nation's Veterans as well as an adaptation for general adult populations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10098697
- **Project number:** 3R44AT009675-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** PRO-CHANGE BEHAVIOR SYSTEMS, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** SARA S JOHNSON
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $98,026
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2013-08-01 → 2022-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10098697

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10098697, Evidence-Based Pain Intervention for Veterans: Leveraging Mobile & Social Media (3R44AT009675-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10098697. Licensed CC0.

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