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. 2025 Jun 12;65(7):gnaf124.
doi: 10.1093/geront/gnaf124.

Feasibility of a Mind-Body Activity Program for English- and Spanish-Speaking Older Adults With Chronic Pain Delivered Within Shared Medical Visits in a Community Clinic

Katherine A McDermott  1   2 , Claire L Szapary  1 , Elizabeth M Allen  1 , Julie R Brewer  1 , Clara C Vonderheide  1 , Natalia Giraldo-Santiago  1   2 , Nadine S Levey  1 , Danielle E La Camera  1 , Roger Pasinski  3 , Jonathan Greenberg  1   4 , Christine S Ritchie  2   4 , Ana-Maria Vranceanu  1   2
Affiliations

Feasibility of a Mind-Body Activity Program for English- and Spanish-Speaking Older Adults With Chronic Pain Delivered Within Shared Medical Visits in a Community Clinic

Katherine A McDermott et al. Gerontologist. .

Abstract

Background and objectives: Underserved older adults with chronic pain receive pain treatment predominantly in primary care. However, these clinics often lack resources and access to evidence-based psychosocial pain management. Shared medical visits, in which patients receive care in a group setting, offer a practical avenue for implementing psychosocial pain management. We conducted an open pilot study with exit interviews (NIH stage 1a) assessing the feasibility of GetActive+, an efficacious mind-body activity intervention for older adults with chronic pain in a community clinic delivered via shared medical visits.

Research design and methods: Twenty English-speaking and 13 Spanish-speaking older adults with chronic pain from a community primary care clinic participated in GetActive+. Our a priori set primary outcomes were feasibility (≥75% of patients approached agree to participate), acceptability (≥75% of patients enrolled complete 8/10 sessions), and fidelity (≥75% of session components delivered as intended). We also assessed preliminary quantitative outcomes, including multimodal physical function (ActiGraph, PROMIS physical function, 6-minute walk test), pain intensity and interference (Brief Pain Inventory; PEG), and emotional function (depression and anxiety symptoms).

Results: We exceeded our benchmarks for feasibility (86.8%), acceptability (93.9%), and fidelity (97.9%). Participants demonstrated improvement in self-reported physical function and 6-minute walk test, pain intensity and interference, and depressive symptoms but not in ActiGraph step count or anxiety symptoms. Exit interviews supported the quantitative findings.

Discussion and implications: GetActive+ exceeded feasibility benchmarks and offers promise in making psychosocial pain management more accessible in the community via group delivery by any available provider.

Keywords: Chronic pain; Community primary care; Older adults; Shared medical visits.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

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