Feasibility of Telehealth Mindfulness for Back Pain in the Emergency Department
Feasibility of Telehealth Mindfulness for Back Pain in the Emergency Department
While guideline-directed nonpharmacological strategies for chronic low back pain are well
 established, optimal chronic pain management for emergency department patients has yet to be
 defined. Mindfulness interventions can be used for management of chronic conditions, yet are
 understudied as a primary approach for patients with chronic pain discharged from the
 emergency department. Currently, there is limited evidence examining whether an individual
 telehealth mindfulness intervention is a feasible and acceptable for these patients. This
 study will develop, pilot, and evaluate the feasibility and effects of an 8-session (12-week)
 telehealth mindfulness intervention for patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic low
 back pain
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. Age 18 years or older;

 2. Presenting to the emergency department to address a chief complaint of an acute
 exacerbation of chronic low back pain;

 3. Meets NIH-supported definition of chronic low back pain (e.g., pain greater than 3
 months that has resulted in pain on at least half the days in the past 6 months); and

 4. English-speaking due to feasibility of utilizing a telehealth mindfulness program
 developed in English

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. Patients requiring hospitalization for a medical severe condition or comorbidity;

 2. Patients with a severe psychiatric or behavioral diagnosis or presenting symptoms,
 including psychosis, delirium, active suicidal ideation, or who screen positive on the
 Columbia Suicide Screening;

 3. Patients with a history of multiple substance use or abuse;

 4. Patients involved in litigation related to the chronic pain condition; and

 5. Patients who are unable to comply with the telehealth intervention (i.e., unable to
 provide stable home address or access telehealth link on a mobile device or computer).