Pragmatic Clinical Trials (PCTs)

These PCTs on non- pharmacological approaches for pain management and comorbid conditions in settings serving military personnel, veterans and their families were selected based on the (1) importance of the scientific questions and (2) potential to address impediments to research with health care delivery organizations. Demonstration Projects will utilize a phased award UG3/UH3 mechanism, with a planning (UG3) and an implementation (UH3) phase. All projects will be milestone-driven, and moving to the implementation phase (UH3) will be dependent upon the successful progress made during the planning phase (UG3).

Active Projects

Click on the project title(s) below to learn more.

PCT TitlePrincipal Investigator(s)Institution(s)PMC Project No.
Cooperative Pain Education and Self management: Expanding Treatment for Real-world Access (Copes ExTRA)Alicia Heapy, PhDVA Connecticut & Yale School of Medicine15
Engaging Veterans Seeking Service Connection Payments in Pain TreatmentMarc Rosen, PhD & Steve Martino, PhDVA Connecticut & Yale School of Medicine16
Chiropractic Care for Veterans, A Pragmatic Randomized Trial Addressing Dose Effects for cLBPChristine Goertz, DC, PhD & Cynthia Long, PhDPalmer Center for Chiropractic Research13
Improving Veteran Access to Integrated Management of Low Back PainSteven George, PhD & Susan Nicole Hastings, MD, MHSDurham VA & Duke University11
SMART Stepped Care Management for Low Back Pain in the Military Health SystemJulie Fritz, PhD & Dan Rhon, PhDUniversity of Utah & Brooke Army Medical Center14
Whole Health Team vs. Primary Care Group Education to Promote Non-Pharmacological Strategies to Improve Pain, Functioning, and Quality of Life in VeteransKaren Seal, MD & William Becker, MDSan Francisco VA Health Care System & VA Connecticut12
The APPROACH Trial: Assessing Pain, Patient Reported Outcomes and Complementary and Integrative Health (A VA National Demonstration Project)Stephanie Taylor, PhD & Steven Zeliadt, PhDVA Greater Los Angeles and VA Puget Sound17
Testing Two, Scalable, Veteran-Centric Mindfulness Based Interventions for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Pragmatic Multisite TrialDiana Burgess, PhDMinneapolis VA19
Targeting Chronic Pain in Primary Care Settings Using Internal Behavioral Health ConsultantsDonald D. McGeary, PhD & Jeffrey L. Goodie, PhD University of Texas Health Science Center & Uniformed Services University18
Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Peripheral Nerve Stimulation:A Non -Pharmacologic Alternative for the Treatment of Postoperative painBrian M. Ilfeld, MD,University of California, San Diego20
Resolving the Burden of Low Back Pain in Military Service Members and Veterans: A Multi-Site Pragmatic Clinical Trial (RESOLVE Trial)Shawn Farrokhi, PhD; Christopher Dearth, PhD & Elizabeth Russell Esposito, PhDDoD-VA Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence (EACE)21