# Diversity Supplement for Group-based mindfulness for patients with chronic pain in the primary care setting

> **NIH NIH UH3** · BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $61,326

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Chronic pain is prevalent in the U.S. with 10% of the population affected by chronic low-back pain (cLBP), the
number one pain condition treated in primary care clinics. Conventional cLBP treatment is often unsatisfactory
and ineffective. Many cLBP sufferers turn to using complementary and alternative medicines (CAM), often
without disclosure to their conventional-care provider. While some CAM treatments (e.g. mindfulness,
chiropractic, acupuncture) have been proven effective for cLBP, others are widely used despite inconclusive
evidence. Dietary supplements (DS) and other natural products (including cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabis),
are popular CAM self-care treatments for chronic pain; yet evidence of effectiveness may be limited, and
combining with pharmaceuticals may be deleterious. Up to 80% of patients do not tell their conventional
providers about their use of CAM, increasing the possibility of untoward interactions, noncompliance, and
undocumented outcomes. A main reason for non-disclosure is that the provider did not ask about CAM use.
 The parent project is a UG3/UH3 multi-site pragmatic RCT funded by NIH NCCIH via the HEAL initiative,
entitled Group-based mindfulness for patients with chronic low back pain in the primary care setting
(OPTIMUM Study). ( Morone, PI; Gaylord/ Faurot, UNC Site PIs), with sites at Boston Medical Center,
University of Pittsburgh and UNC/Piedmont Health Services. The project is funded from 09/28/19 through
08/31/24. Aim 2 of the parent grant is to integrative and test an evidence-based mindfulness clinical
pain program, OPTIMUM, for patients with cLBP in the primary care setting. Data collection at baseline
and follow-up will be used to determine outcomes. Currently, the OPTIMUM study employs an inadequate data
collection procedure for documenting the use of dietary supplements (DS) and other natural products for
management of cLBP. The goal of this Administrative Supplement is to augment and extend the medication
collection procedures associated with Aim 2 of the parent grant to include DS and other natural products, while
enhancing the candidate’s research skills. Administrative Supplement Aim 1: Estimate the prevalence of
DS and other natural product use, including cannabis and cannabidiol, for chronic pain in the U.S. and
Canada, will involve a scoping review in which the candidate works with mentors to design, conduct, and
collate data from studies addressing the prevalence of DS and other natural product use for chronic pain and
to identify the most commonly used DS/natural products among chronic pain patients in the past 10 years.
Administrative Supplement Aim 2: Characterize DS and other natural product use within the OPTIMUM
cohort through qualitative assessments. The candidate will utilize a DS iterative interview process,
including open ended questions, to enrich data collection and develop a more complete understanding of CAM
use. The candidate is actively pursuing a career...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10442798
- **Project number:** 3UH3AT010621-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Natalia E. Morone
- **Activity code:** UH3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $61,326
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-09-28 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10442798

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10442798, Diversity Supplement for Group-based mindfulness for patients with chronic pain in the primary care setting (3UH3AT010621-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10442798. Licensed CC0.

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