Journal article
Targeting chronic pain care to rural women veterans: A feasibility pilot
Psychological services, Vol.23(1), pp.142-152
02/2026
DOI: 10.1037/ser0000909
PMCID: PMC12108542
PMID: 39374152
Abstract
For rural women veterans, significant barriers exist in accessing high-quality, multicomponent behavioral pain self-management interventions. As such, a telehealth behavioral pain self-management intervention designed specifically for rural-dwelling women veterans with chronic pain was piloted for this study. This mixed methods, single-arm preliminary study examined the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention and completed a responder analysis. Participants completed surveys before and 1-month following the intervention, and they completed a qualitative interview following the intervention. About one quarter (24%) of potentially eligible participants who were sent a letter about the study consented to participate (
= 44). All participants identified as female and were rural dwelling, with mean age of 56 years (range = 34-80), and the majority of the sample (81%) self-identified as White and non-Hispanic or Latino. Average baseline scores on the Pain, Enjoyment of Life, and General Activity three-item scale (PEG-3) measure indicated severe pain and functional interference (
= 6.88,
= 1.62). Of the 44 participants who consented, 70% completed the intervention. About half of treatment completers (47%, 14/30) were deemed responders, reporting ≥ 30% reduction on their PEG-3 total scores. On the Global Impression of Change scale, 87% reported improvement. Study completers indicated that the telehealth platform facilitated their engagement and that they perceived the intervention to be beneficial and credible. Qualitative data emphasized themes of connection with other women veterans who experienced chronic pain while perceiving a retained sense of individual identity. These preliminary data support feasibly of this intervention for rural-dwelling women veterans with chronic pain. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Targeting chronic pain care to rural women veterans: A feasibility pilot
- Creators
- Lauren Garvin - Iowa City VA Health Care SystemMary A Driscoll - VA Connecticut Healthcare SystemKenda Stewart Steffensmeier - University of Iowa, Internal MedicineNicole L Johnson - Iowa City VA Health Care SystemJenna L Adamowicz - University of IowaAshlie A Obrecht - Iowa City VA Health Care SystemKimberly J Hart - University of IowaShamira J Rothmiller - Iowa City VA Health Care SystemZita Sibenaller - University of IowaLori Stout - University of IowaChris Richards - Iowa City VA Health Care SystemMark Vander Weg - Iowa City VA Health Care SystemBrian C Lund - Iowa City VA Health Care SystemKatherine Hadlandsmyth - Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Psychological services, Vol.23(1), pp.142-152
- DOI
- 10.1037/ser0000909
- PMID
- 39374152
- PMCID
- PMC12108542
- NLM abbreviation
- Psychol Serv
- ISSN
- 1541-1559
- eISSN
- 1939-148X
- Publisher
- EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING FOUNDATION-AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOC
- Grant note
- US Department of Veterans Affairs; Health Services Research and Development Service US Department of Veterans Affairs; Office of Rural Health
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 10/07/2024
- Date published
- 02/2026
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Epidemiology; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Anesthesia; Injury Prevention Research Center; Community and Behavioral Health; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984722944002771
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