Evaluating the Auricular Point Acupressure-Self Management Program for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Among Rural Populations

Part of paid clinical trials in Columbia, South Carolina.

Sponsor
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Study ID
NCT07179016
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Chronic Knee Pain
  • Chronic Pain (Back / Neck)
  • Chronic Pain Management
  • Joint Pain

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 85 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Auricular Point Acupressure (APA) - Self Management (SM) — BEHAVIORAL
    APA is a noninvasive and needle-free pain management therapy based on the principles of acupuncture. The APA-SM intervention program is aimed to manage chronic musculoskeletal pain leveraging a mobile app containing APA videos and remote vs in-person guidance or coaching to practice APA based on APA study assignment.
  • Education Control — BEHAVIORAL
    Education Control group receive an app but the content will be specific to pain and self-management (no APA content) and they practice pain self-management skills (no APA practice).

Study Details

The investigators will test an Auricular Point Acupressure Self-Management (APA-SM) program integrated into rural primary and specialty care and rural communities for chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP). To maximize self-management of pain, the investigators developed a smartphone app which will allow the participants to learn to self-administer APA. The investigators will have 3 arms (APA-SM self-guided with remote training, APA-SM with in-person training, and Education Control) with 231 participants per arm (total=693 for 3 arms). The investigators will evaluate the clinical effectiveness of our 4-week APA-SM intervention compared to control in primary outcomes (pain intensity, pain interference, activity), secondary outcomes (HEAL Clinical Pain Core common data elements), and analgesic use up to 6 months follow-up.

Key Dates

Start date
Sep 11, 2025
Status verified
Sep 2025
Primary completion
Jun 30, 2029
Completion
Aug 31, 2029

Study Design

Enrollment
693 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Remote APA-SM Training
    APA-SM self-guided with remote training
  • Experimental: In-person APA-SM Training
    APA-SM with in-person training
  • Active Comparator: Pain Education
    Education Control

Primary Outcome Measure

Change in pain as assessed by the pain, enjoyment of life, general activity (PEG) survey [ Time Frame: Baseline, post intervention (4 weeks after baseline), 1 month, 3 months, 6 months ]

Central Contacts

Locations (3)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
University of South CarolinaColumbiaSouth Carolina29208
Jennifer Kawi, PhD, MSN, FNP-BC, FAAN
[email protected]
713-500-2293
Sarah Pace, PhD
[email protected]
803-220-5294
University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort WorthFort WorthTexas76107
Jane Bolin, PhD, JD, BSN
[email protected]
979-571-6536
Tonychris Nnaka, PhD, MPH, RN, CPH
[email protected]
817-735-5877
The University of Texas Health science Center at HoustonHoustonTexas77030
Jennifer Kawi, PhD, MSN, FNP-BC, CNE, FAAN
[email protected]
702-544-8426
Jungkyung Min, PhD, MS, RN
[email protected]
9794502091
Jennifer Kawi, PhD, MSN, FNP-BC, CNE, FAAN (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

Find similar trials in Columbia, SC

By research site
University of South Carolina· Columbia, SCUniversity of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth· Fort Worth, TXThe University of Texas Health science Center at Houston· Houston, TX

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