This is a hybrid Type 1 effectiveness implementation study. The primary aim is to conduct a 2-group, randomized controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of stimulating acupressure compared to a waitlist control group for Veterans with chronic low back pain. Study participants will include Veterans Health Administration patients within the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System who suffer from chronic low back pain and are interested in trying acupressure as a form of pain management. The second aim is to assess facilitators and barriers to implementing this type of acupressure program in VHA.
Specifically, this study will determine the effectiveness of a 6-week self-administered acupressure protocol on outcomes of pain interference, fatigue, sleep quality, and disability, at 6- and 10-weeks post baseline compared to a waitlist control group. The investigators hypothesize that outcomes will be improved from baseline for Veterans after 6 weeks of acupressure practice, and improvements will persist for the following 4 weeks. Intervention effects will be moderated by opioid use at baseline, age, sex, and baseline pain interference.
The study will recruit and enroll 300 Veterans with chronic low back pain, who will be randomized into one of two study arms: stimulating acupressure or a waitlist control group. These Veterans will be recruited in multiple ways, including through Whole Health classes offered at the study facilities, provider referral and proactive outreach, with potentially eligible participants identified using electronic health record data available through the VHA's Corporate Data Warehouse. All participants will attend an introductory acupressure class, conducted either virtually or in person, that provides a general overview of acupressure for chronic back pain, demonstrates how to find an acupressure point and how much pressure to apply.
After completing the consent process and a baseline survey, participants will be randomized to the acupressure intervention or waitlist control group. Participants will be allocated into groups in a 1:1 ratio by block randomization with mixed block sizes and stratified by sex to ensure balance of females and males across groups. Participants randomized to the intervention will then receive a tablet computer with an app that provides specific instructions on how to self-administer stimulating acupressure and identify acupressure points for treating back pain. Intervention participants will be asked to follow a 6-week protocol that involves performing acupressure once per day, for approximately 30 minutes, guided by the app. After 6 weeks, they will be asked to stop acupressure for 4 weeks so persisting effects can be determined. Participants in the waitlist control group will receive a tablet with the app at the end of 10 weeks. Survey based outcome assessments will be conducted at 6 weeks and 10 weeks.
The ultimate goal of this study is to identify effective and accessible non-pharmacological treatments for chronic pain, which are critically needed both inside and outside VHA.
