# Integrated Technology-Based Intervention to Reduce Heavy Drinking and Chronic Pain among Patients in Primary Care

> **NIH NIH R34** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS) · 2020 · $361,481

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Heavy alcohol use represents a significant risk for morbidity and mortality among primary care patients. These
risks are compounded among those who experience chronic pain, one of the most common problems among
those presenting to primary care. Pain represents an important trigger for alcohol use among heavy drinkers
with chronic pain in primary care settings and is linked with the experience of negative alcohol-related
consequences and heavy drinking over time. Moreover, pain has been shown to be associated with poorer
responses to alcohol interventions. Similarly, heavy alcohol use interferes with pain management efforts
among those with chronic pain and is associated with earlier dropout from treatment. Efforts to address these
co-occurring problems represent a significant challenge for clinicians given restricted visit time and resources,
limitations of available pharmacological approaches to adequately address these conditions, and patient
motivation to engage in treatment regimens that may require multiple clinic visits. Given the rates of chronic
pain and heavy drinking among patients in primary care, an integrated approach to address these conditions
with low utilization of health care resources and minimal patient burden may significantly improve health
outcomes. The objective of this R34 (Behavioral and Integrative Treatment Development Program) proposal is
to develop an integrated, multimodal technology-based intervention to reduce heavy alcohol use and chronic
pain among primary care patients. This cognitive behavioral self-management intervention will be
implemented by making use of web-delivered content and app-based automated and synchronous messaging
features. This project will consist of two phases. The first will consist of intervention development through an
iterative process of patient and staff interviews, intervention construction, and preliminary testing. The second
phase will be a randomized controlled pilot trial conducted with patients identified through screening in primary
care. In this second phase, the main objectives are to develop study procedures, collect preliminary data on
drinking and pain outcomes, and assess intervention feasibility in preparation for a Stage 2 efficacy trial. This
intervention approach has the potential to provide an efficacious, low-cost, low participant burden strategy for
addressing heavy alcohol use and chronic pain that may be readily integrated into primary care settings.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9928847
- **Project number:** 5R34AA027598-02
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS)
- **Principal Investigator:** TIBOR P. PALFAI
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $361,481
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-05-15 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9928847

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9928847, Integrated Technology-Based Intervention to Reduce Heavy Drinking and Chronic Pain among Patients in Primary Care (5R34AA027598-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9928847. Licensed CC0.

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