EmpowerSpine Program

Sponsor
Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's
Study ID
NCT07419646
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

Notify me when recruiting opens

Save your spot on the interest list for this study. We'll keep your details with this study so our team can follow up when recruiting opens.

Not yet recruiting

Add your contact details and location so we can keep your interest tied to this study.

Conditions

  • Chronic Pain
  • Internet Delivered Treatment
  • Multidisciplinary Approach
  • Spinal Cord Injury

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • EmpowerSpine — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants will receive the 10-week tailored EmpowerSpine program previously co-developed by the Team and Patient Oriented Steering Committee. The program consists of 1) education designed to improve participants' understanding of the biopsychosocial nature of chronic pain by presenting information on the nature of pain biology, address erroneous beliefs about pain (e.g. that chronic pain is always associated with pathology) and outline links between chronic pain and health behaviour risks (inactivity, weight, smoking, and so on); 2) behavioural activation through goal setting and development of a physical activity action and coping plan; 3) managing overdoing-underdoing cycle of activity levels, tackling fear avoidance; 4) developing self-monitoring and regulation practices; 5) occurrence of setbacks, signs of setbacks and creating setback plans. Materials will be presented in a didactic (i.e., text-based and audio with visual images and animation videos) and case-enhanced learning
  • Guidance (G) — BEHAVIORAL
    Guidance: Weekly Guidance will be provided by a trained Guide. The Guide will spend \~15 -20 mins. per week/per participant. Weekly interaction will consist of: 1) assist participants practice skills, reinforce progress, engage with the program; 2) guide participants to learn material, highlight lesson content, answer questions, and problem solve on how to apply skills; 3) provide support through warmth and concern; 4) monitor symptoms and risk management.
  • Peer Support (PS) — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants will receive focused peer group discussions. Focused Peer Group Discussion: The focused discussion will take the form of a group based virtual session of approximately 6-8 participants in each group The Groups will be moderated by a team member once every two weeks for the duration of the 10-week program.
  • Booster (B) — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants will receive a booster session workshop Booster sessions: Participants allocated to receive booster sessions will have access to a booster module and workshop at 16 weeks post enrollment. The booster module will include online materials that review core skills such as thought challenging, deep breathing, behavioural activation, and graded exposure. The module will also discuss how to maintain motivation and continue to practice skills regularly. The Booster module will also include a Do-It-Yourself Guide for participants to print and practice the skills they have learned throughout the course. A group based workshop will be provided to participants to review the booster module.

Study Details

Chronic pain affects over 60% of individuals living with spinal cord injuries (SCI), significantly impairing their daily lives and overall well-being. Traditional treatments like medications often provide limited relief and come with unwanted side effects. Recognizing this gap, the EmpowerSpine program was co-developed as an innovative, online, multidisciplinary pain management solution tailored for individuals with SCI. EmpowerSpine equips participants with evidence-based tools, including education about pain biology, behavioural strategies to manage daily activities, and techniques to improve self-monitoring and resilience. Delivered through an accessible digital platform, the program is designed to overcome barriers such as limited mobility, high costs, and geographic constraints. In initial trials, EmpowerSpine demonstrated high levels of satisfaction and adherence among participants, with improvements in pain intensity, mental health, and quality of life. The proposed research seeks to refine EmpowerSpine using the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST), a pragmatic research framework, to identify which components of the program (i.e. clinician guidance, peer support groups, follow-up booster sessions) yield the best outcomes. A randomized controlled trial involving 100 participants will evaluate the program's impact on self-efficacy, pain levels, and overall quality of life. This work aims to optimize EmpowerSpine for scalability, making it a sustainable and effective resource for individuals with SCI across Canada. By leveraging partnerships with patient organizations and healthcare providers, the research will ensure the program addresses real-world needs and is positioned for widespread implementation. EmpowerSpine has the potential to revolutionize how chronic pain is managed in the SCI community, offering a scalable model of care that combines technology, evidence-based practices, and patient-centered approaches to improve lives.

Key Dates

First listed
Feb 19, 2026
Start date
Jun 1, 2026
Status verified
Feb 2026
Primary completion
Jun 1, 2027
Completion
Oct 1, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
100 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: EmpowerSpine Program (ES) Self Directed
    Participants will receive the 10-week tailored EmpowerSpine program previously co-developed by the Team and Patient Oriented Steering Committee. The program consists of 1) education designed to improve participants' understanding of the biopsychosocial nature of chronic pain by presenting information on the nature of pain biology, address erroneous beliefs about pain (e.g. that chronic pain is always associated with pathology) and outline links between chronic pain and health behaviour risks (inactivity, weight, smoking, and so on); 2) behavioural activation through goal setting and development of a physical activity action and coping plan; 3) managing overdoing-underdoing cycle of activity levels, tackling fear avoidance; 4) developing self-monitoring and regulation practices; 5) occurrence of setbacks, signs of setbacks and creating setback plans. Materials will be presented in a didactic (i.e., text-based and audio with visual images and animation videos) and case-enhanced learning
  • Experimental: ES and Guidance (G)
    Guidance: Weekly Guidance will be provided by a trained Guide. The Guide will spend \~15 -20 mins. per week/per participant. Weekly interaction will consist of: 1) assist participants practice skills, reinforce progress, engage with the program; 2) guide participants to learn material, highlight lesson content, answer questions, and problem solve on how to apply skills; 3) provide support through warmth and concern; 4) monitor symptoms and risk management.
  • Experimental: ES with Peer Support (PS)
    In addition to ES program, participants will receive focused peer group discussions. Focused Peer Group Discussion: The focused discussion will take the form of a group based virtual session of approximately 6-8 participants in each group The Groups will be moderated by a team member once every two weeks for the duration of the 10-week program.
  • Experimental: ES and Booster (B)
    Along with ES program, participants will receive a booster session workshop Booster sessions: Participants allocated to receive booster sessions will have access to a booster module and workshop at 16 weeks post enrollment. The booster module will include online materials that review core skills such as thought challenging, deep breathing, behavioural activation, and graded exposure. The module will also discuss how to maintain motivation and continue to practice skills regularly. The Booster module will also include a Do-It-Yourself Guide for participants to print and practice the skills they have learned throughout the course. A group based workshop will be provided to participants to review the booster module.
  • Experimental: ES+G+PS
    Participants receive ES, G, and PS
  • Experimental: ES+G+B
    Participants receive ES, G, and B
  • Experimental: ES+PS+B
    Participants receive ES, PS, and B
  • Experimental: ES+G+PS+B
    Participants receive ES, G, PS, and B

Primary Outcome Measure

Change in Pain [ Time Frame: Baseline to 3 month follow up ]

Central Contacts

Related Studies