Trial results for a study investigating chronic pain management in adults living with HIV were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-03-18, involving 36 participants.
Background
Chronic pain is a significant comorbidity among persons living with HIV, with recent prevalence estimates ranging from 55-67% among the 1.2 million individuals living with HIV. There is a recognized need for evidence-based non-pharmacological interventions to improve chronic pain management and potentially reduce the demand for opioids. This research aimed to address this need by examining the feasibility and acceptability of Tai Chi as a mind-body intervention for chronic pain management within an HIV population.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 36 participants to investigate conditions including HIV Infections and Chronic Pain. The trial examined the feasibility and acceptability of two approaches: a Gentle Movement intervention (Tai Chi) and Health Coaching, for chronic pain management in an HIV population.
Key results
The trial reported several key measurements related to pain intensity and pain interference:
- Pain Intensity - Brief Pain Inventory (units on a scale):
- For the Gentle Movement group, mean values were 7.3 (Standard Deviation 1.8), 6.1 (Standard Deviation 2.2), and 5.6 (Standard Deviation 2.9).
- For the Health Coaching group, mean values were 6.6 (Standard Deviation 1.9), 6.1 (Standard Deviation 2.2), and 7.4 (Standard Deviation 2.1).
- Pain Interference - Brief Pain Inventory (score on a scale):
- For the Gentle Movement group, mean values were 5.9 (Standard Deviation 1.5), 4.7 (Standard Deviation 3.3), and 5.4 (Standard Deviation 3.3).
- For the Health Coaching group, mean values were 5.8 (Standard Deviation 2.3), 5.8 (Standard Deviation 2.0), and 6.5 (Standard Deviation 2.7).
What this means
The posted results provide specific measurements for pain intensity and pain interference in adults living with HIV and chronic pain who participated in either a gentle movement (Tai Chi) or health coaching intervention. While the data includes mean scores and standard deviations for these outcomes, no comparative analyses or statistical significance values between the two groups were reported. These measurements contribute to understanding the observed outcomes within each intervention group, laying groundwork for future research into non-pharmacological approaches for chronic pain in this population.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT05055596, titled "Improving Quality of Life for Adults Living With HIV and Chronic Pain", were posted on 2026-03-18 on clinicaltrials.gov.