Supporting Research in Pain Management for Veterans and Military Service Members
Supporting Research in Pain Management for Veterans and Military Service Members

VA Researchers Put Evidence-Based Pain Care into the Hands of Veterans

6,000+ Veterans Received Effective Non-Drug Pain Care in PMC Research Trials

  • Mindfulness
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Chiropractic Care
  • Care Management Pathways
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Health and Wellness Coaching
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Since 2017, the Pain Management Collaboratory (PMC) network has supported large pragmatic clinical trials embedded across the Veteran health system. The PMC trials use patient resource groups to incorporate Veteran perspectives into trial activities.

What We've Learned from PMC Trials

how to improve access to care

Telehealth delivery, new care pathways, and self-referral made pain care more convenient and Veterans received care more quickly.

how to improve health outcomes

Individual trials improved health outcomes, including pain and function and identified new care pathways.

how to reach more veterans

Veterans across demographic backgrounds and geographic areas enrolled, showing broad interest in non-drug pain treatment.

Trials had few exclusion criteria, so participants were similar to Veterans who receive pain care in VA.

Trial Treatments Moving into Clinical Care

  • Telehealth versions of mindfulness and CBT for chronic pain are being adopted from the trials into clinical care, providing Veterans with more choices.
  • VA is implementing asynchronous, remotely delivered treatments because they are low burden for Veterans, use fewer system resources, and increase access to pain care.

Further Information

Pragmatic Trials

Learn about the studies supported by the PMC

PMC Work Groups

Providing Guidance, Expertise and Collaborative Support

Patient Resource Group

supporting and advising investigators, study leadership and patients