# Trajectories of non-pharmacologic and opioid health services for pain management in association with military readiness and health status outcomes: SUPIC renewal

> **NIH NIH R01** · BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $769,739

## Abstract

Summary/Abstract
 In 2016, the US Department of Health and Human Services released the National Pain Strategy, which
outlined a coordinated plan to improve healthcare delivery for patients with pain. It outlined the need for better
monitoring methods, supporting patient-centered integrated pain management practices, and improving access
to effective non-pharmacological therapies (NPT). The impact of pain in civilian health care systems is mirrored
in the military and veteran populations; both the Military Health System (MHS) and Veterans Health
Administration (VHA) populations have a higher prevalence of chronic pain compared to civilian populations.
The Medical Surveillance Monthly Report identified the top nine reasons for seeking care in the MHS outside of
pregnancy services and ill-defined symptoms. Five were related to musculoskeletal (back, knee, ankle, arm)
injuries or problems and the remaining top conditions were anxiety, mood/adjustment, and sleep disorders,
which in some cases could be comorbidities with pain.
 The present study is a renewal R01 application to advance knowledge on military readiness, opioid, and
health status outcomes associated with different early treatment trajectories of nondrug pain management
strategies in the MHS. Investigators from the SUPIC project (Substance Use and Psychological Injury Combat
R01AT008404) have generated foundational knowledge about chronic pain and its behavioral health
comorbidities in the MHS. We have established a comprehensive, longitudinal database on Army members
returning deployment comprised of their MHS and VHA health encounter/claims data and several other data
sources. We have investigated the use of early NPT utilization (both complementary [e.g., chiropractic,
acupuncture, spinal manipulation, self-management, interdisciplinary pain programs] strategies and integrative
[e.g., exercise therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, mental health specialty care] strategies, and
identified there is high prevalence of opioid medications in the chronic pain cohort.
 The Specific Aims of the SUPIC renewal application are to: Aim 1: (a) Characterize early trajectories of
NPT and opioid therapies for pain management; (b) examine relationships between NPT utilization (e.g.,
specific modalities, utilization trajectories) and multidimensional outcomes (e.g., military readiness, opioid
utilization, health status); and (c) investigate the relationship of NPT trajectories and outcomes in discrete high
risk subgroups of patients (comorbid PTSD, depression) and for specific pain conditions (e.g., back pain, other
musculoskeletal, headache). Aim 2: Identify facility- and provider-level factors (FTE availability for health
occupations, propensity to refer to NPT or prescribe opioids) that explain variation in NPT use and opioid
prescribing between MHS facilities. Aim 3: (a) Describe the characteristics of SUPIC Army deployed members
with chronic pain in the MHS who do and do not transition to V...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10448404
- **Project number:** 5R01AT008404-09
- **Recipient organization:** BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Rachel Sayko Adams
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $769,739
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-09-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10448404

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10448404, Trajectories of non-pharmacologic and opioid health services for pain management in association with military readiness and health status outcomes: SUPIC renewal (5R01AT008404-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10448404. Licensed CC0.

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