Tailored Pain Guide (TPG) Study

Chronic lower back pain (cLBP) is one of the most prevalent and costly health problems worldwide, and its management increasingly relies on non-pharmacological approaches. The Tailored Pain Guide (TPG) study tests whether a personalized digital pain management tool — designed to guide patients through non-pharmacological pain strategies — can improve pain-related functioning for people with chronic low back pain. Adults with chronic low back pain (present for at least 6 months on more than half of days) who score at or above 60 on the PROMIS Pain Interference scale (indicating significant functional impact) are eligible. There is a non-pharmacological sub-study arm for patients currently on the waitlist for a non-pharmacological pain program. People with cancer-related pain, autoimmune disease, language or sensory barriers, or pregnancy are excluded. Personalized digital health tools represent a scalable way to extend pain care beyond clinic visits. By tailoring recommendations to each patient's specific situation and preferences, the TPG may produce better adherence and outcomes than generic advice — providing evidence to support wider adoption of digital therapeutics in pain management.