Collaboratory Treatment Pathway for Chronic Pain Patients.

NCT07331766 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 2 other identifiers: 898717024201
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 386
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 4

Brief Summary

In this multicenter randomized controlled trial, the aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized treatment pathway (STP) for patients referred to four participating pain clinics, by comparing it to treatment as usual (TAU) which is standard care at the clinics. The STP differs from TAU in two key aspects:

• Structured cross-sector collaboration: Involvement of primary healthcare providers, particularly the patient's GP, in two digital collaborative meetings with the pain clinic.
• Time-bound treatment pathway: A clearly defined treatment trajectory with follow-up over a six-month period. The study aims to answer whether the STP give larger improvements than TAU in the following outcomes:
• patients´ reported overall impression of change in health (primary outcome)
• pain interference (primary outcome)
• physical function and mental health
• satisfaction with and experience of continuity and integration of the health care services All study participants will follow an initial care pathway at the pain clinic, which includes:
• a screening consultation with a study coordinator
• a multidisciplinary clinical assessment based on a biopsychosocial approach by at least to health care professions. The specific professional groups included in each assessment are determined individually based on patient needs. The control group: This group will receive standard care at the pain clinic. This will vary somewhat between the four pain clinics , but almost all patients will be offered a summary consultation with the pain clinic team where further plans for follow-up will be discussed. Some patients will be offered further treatment at the pain clinic. All clinics will send a clinical summary to the referring physician with suggestions for further follow-up. If further collaboration with primary care is needed, it may preferably be written or arranged via telephone. Digital collaborative meeting will not be offered to this group. The intervention group: All patients in this group will be offered the STP with two digital collaborative meetings as described above.

Conditions

Chronic Pain; Chronic Pain Syndrome; Chronic (Non-malignant) Musculoskeletal Pain; Patients Referred to Multidisciplinary Pain Clinics

Keywords

chronic pain; multidisciplinary pain clinic; Standardized treatment pathway; collaboration across levels of health care; collaboration

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Pain interference

  Pain interference questions (q8-q14)from the Brief Pain Inventory questionnaire (BPI)

  At baseline and through to 18 months after baseline

• Overall impression of change in health

  Patient global impression of change questionnaire (PGIC)

  Measured 18 months after baseline

Secondary Outcomes (13)

• Physical function

  From baseline and to 18 months after baseline

• Mental health

  From baseline to 18 months after baseline

• Patient experience of continuity and integration of health care services

  From baseline to 18 months after baseline

• Trust in health care services and social security services

  From baseline to 18 months after baseline

• Collaboration between health care services

  From baseline to 18 months after baseline

Other Outcomes (3)

• The referring GP's satisfaction with the pain clinic management

  From within 2 weeks after summary consultation (control group)/ collaborative consultation (intervention group) to 12 months after baseline

• Pain locations

  From baseline to 18 months after baseline

• Severity of symptoms of fatigue, depression, memory/concentration, sleep problems, headache and stomach pain

  From baseline to 18 months after baseline

Study Arms (2)

A collaborative treatment pathway for patients referred to multidisciplinary pain clinics.

EXPERIMENTAL

The study intervention is a new standardized treatment pathway with exteded collaboration for patients referred to pain clinics.

Other: A collaborative treatment pathway for patients referred to multidisciplinary pain clinics in Norway

Treatment as usual: Standard care at a multidisciplinary pain clinic

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Standard care following present procedures at the multidisciplinary pain clinics involved in this study

Other: Treatment as usual

Interventions

Treatment as usual OTHER

The comparator intervention reflects the current standard of care provided at four Norwegian pain clinics. Standard care may vary slightly between clinics but generally includes a multidisciplinary clinical evaluation involving at least two different healthcare professions. A clinical summary outlining recommendations for further follow-up is sent to the referring physician. Most patients also receive a summary consultation with the pain clinic team, and some are offered additional treatment at the pain clinic.

Treatment as usual: Standard care at a multidisciplinary pain clinic

A collaborative treatment pathway for patients referred to multidisciplinary pain clinics in Norway OTHER

The study intervention is a standardized treatment pathway for patients referred to multidisciplinary pain clinics. The pathway is designed to support structured collaboration across health care levels and other sectors. It includes two digital multidisciplinary meetings with the patient, the pain clinic, and additional stakeholders, such as social security representatives. The pathway delineates a clearly defined course of treatment with scheduled follow-up over a six-month period.

A collaborative treatment pathway for patients referred to multidisciplinary pain clinics.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Patients aged 18 years or older who have been granted the right to specialist health care in accordance with the Norwegian National prioritization guideline for pain clinics, and who are scheduled for multidisciplinary treatment involving at least two professionals from the pain clinic.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients scheduled for monodisciplinary treatment. Patients referred solely for invasive procedures. Patients without sufficient language skills to understand the study information and provide informed consent. Patients are excluded if interpreter services are required.
• Patients deemed unable to complete study-related tasks (e.g., questionnaires). Patients referred exclusively for stabilization or tapering of opioids or other medications considered addictive.
• Patients who will be unable to participate in collaborative meetings or follow the treatment plan due to extensive ongoing or planned care trajectories within other specialist health services.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Haukeland University Hospital: collaborator
• University Hospital of North Norway: collaborator
• St. Olavs Hospital: lead
• Sykehuset Innlandet HF: collaborator

Study Sites (4)

Innlandet Hospital

Ottestad, Innlandet, 2312, Norway

Location

University Hospital of Northern Norway

Tromsø, Troms, 9016, Norway

Location

St Olavs hospital

Trondheim, Trøndelag, 7030, Norway

Location

Haukeland University Hospital

Bergen, 5021, Norway

Location

Related Links

• The published version of the National treatment path for patients referred to multidisciplinary pain clinics in Norway
• Project information site (in Norwegian language). This site is shared with GP's when invited to participate in collaborative meetings.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Chronic Pain; Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome; Musculoskeletal Pain

Interventions

Therapeutics

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Organizing Pneumonia; Bronchiolitis Obliterans; Bronchiolitis; Bronchitis; Bronchial Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Lung Diseases; Graft vs Host Disease; Immune System Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Study Officials

• Astrid Woodhouse, Phd

  St Olavs Hospital/ Smertesenteret

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Mari Glette, PhD

  St. Olavs Hospital

  STUDY CHAIR

• Tormod Landmark, PhD

  St. Olavs Hospital

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 29, 2025
• First Posted: January 12, 2026
• Study Start: December 19, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2028
• Last Updated: January 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

NO (4)