Project Overview: Integrative group medical visits increase access to optimal management for chronic pain, but maintainingthe benefitsof such requires ongoing support. The Integrative Pain Management Program offers 12-week integrative group medical visits in English and Spanish, in partnership with San Francisco Health Network. Currently, ongoing group support is available in English only. Spanish-speaking participants have urged our team to provide longer-term integrative health and social support. This project would establish an ongoing, in-person group that provides peer support, pain education and resources, and mind-body practices for chronic pain management. The group will be located at the Osher Center and/or a community site, and will be facilitated by bilingual integrative practitioners (e.g., primary care and mental health clinicians, movement instructors). Osher practitioners and fellows would be able to contribute as guest facilitators in their areas of expertise.
Project Feasibility and Anticipated Impact: Osher Center researchers and San Francisco Health Network have collaborated on integrative chronic pain care and related research for >10 years, with multiple versions of an Integrative Pain Management Program in English, and recent development of a 12-week Spanish language program (59 participants enrolled to date). Spanish-speaking participants have directly requested ongoing, in-person support beyond the 12-week program, and all four program facilitators are interested in contributing to an ongoing group. To evaluate the group’s effects, participants will be invited to complete surveys assessing changes in chronic pain and related symptoms, as well as social support and program satisfaction. Mind-body practices and social support are known to help reduce chronic pain and pain-related symptoms, while external stress is known to worsen chronic conditions. We are confident that this group would support the wellbeing of Spanish-speaking Latine immigrants during a time of exacerbated stress due to policy change, while serving a model for ongoing group programming after short-term interventions.
Osher Project Leads: Ariana Thompson-Lastad, Samuel Solis
Key Team Members: Christa Fernando (Osher Center), Ann Dallman, Zoë Elena, Naomi Schoenfeld, Sebastian Melo (bilingual integrative clinicians & practitioners working in San Francisco Health Network).
Supporting team members: Maria Chao, Denise Ruvalcaba (Osher Center)
Total Budget Requested: $20,000
Comments
This project would definitely
This project would definitely fill a gap in services offered at Osher and provide significant support for a community that is undergoing more precarious times. Wondering if zoom or online options would also be offered and/or if the ongoing support groups would be limited to those completing the 12-week GMV series? Curious if current evaluation components look at benefits to the social networks (family members, friends, community members) of the GMV participants?
We got a lot of feedback from
We got a lot of feedback from patients specifically preferring in-person services, but a virtual option would definitely expand access! We have a virtual version of this program in English already so the framework is there. Also this would be open to patients who didn't do the original GMV series (as that part of the study has more exclusion criteria). Our current surveys do look at social support (specifically who their support network is, do they feel like they have someone to reach out to...etc). Wondering if there are any specific benefits of social networks you were thinking of looking at? thanks for your thoughts!
That's great you all can
That's great you all can build on the English virtual framework if you all go that route!
I was curious about social networks thinking about extended benefits of participating in the ongoing support groups to family and friends - for example on children with parents who are less burdened by pain and/or have emotional support through the group, and/or on friends with whom participants might share information/strategies, etc. they learn in group that could also help them. Imagining a sort of benefit "wave" :)
I love this idea--it's
I love this idea--it's definitely something we hear about in qualitative analysis of existing pain groups
Great proposal! You mention
Great proposal! You mention that the group will off educational materials and resources. Will the identified team members be responsible for creatin new materials or translating exisiting materials? If you'd like to include translation services in the budget, you might consider partnering with UC Davis Translational Services. They were recommended to me by another comms colleague at UCS. Here is where you can learn more: https://health.ucdavis.edu/interpreting-services/written-translation
If you are looking to include videos of mind-body practices, you can ask the HOME team to use their videos. We are working on culturally relevant videos in Spanish and Cantonese. They should be ready by Fall 2025.
Thanks Julia! We would love
Thanks Julia! We would love to use the HOME videos as ways for participants to practice at home. Our team has created new materials & translated them for our existing pain groups, and would be exploring what additional written materials participants would find most useful (if any).
This sounds like an amazing
This sounds like an amazing way to enhance Osher Center services and foster continued collaboration between Osher Center researchers and the San Francisco Health Network. It’s inspiring to see this initiative addressing specific requests from participants and responding to their long-term support needs. This will not only enhance their well-being but also serve as a valuable model for future programs.