NCT07776600 · Companion IQ, Inc
VETERANS AFFAIRS AUGUSTA
What this study is about
Chronic pain is a prevalent and debilitating condition among Veterans, often accompanied by depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and social isolation. Despite the availability of behavioral interventions many Veterans-particularly those with high in-person healthcare utilization-face barriers to accessing non-pharmacological pain management strategies.
View original scientific description
Chronic pain is a prevalent and debilitating condition among Veterans, often accompanied by depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and social isolation. Despite the availability of behavioral interventions many Veterans-particularly those with high in-person healthcare utilization-face barriers to accessing non-pharmacological pain management strategies. These barriers include limited clinician availability, geographic constraints, and digital exclusion among older or underserved populations. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of My AI Companion, an automated, text/telephone-delivered chatbot designed to support chronic pain self-management among high-utilizing Veterans. The intervention offers a low-barrier approach to promoting symptom tracking, patient activation, and engagement in coping strategies-without requiring Internet access or clinician time.
Interventions
BEHAVIORAL
My AI Companion
My AI Companion is an automated, text/telephone-delivered chatbot designed to support chronic pain self-management among high-utilizing Veterans.
Primary outcome measures
Acceptability
Time frame: baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months
Net Promoter Score
Feasibility of Engagement
Time frame: baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months
Measure feasibility through enrollment, retention, and chatbot engagement data (e.g., number of interactions, session duration).
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
- Participants must meet all of the following eligibility criteria to be enrolled in the study:
- Be a Veteran receiving care at the VA Augusta Health Care System Pain Medicine Service.
- Be aged 18 or older.
- Have a documented diagnosis of chronic pain (defined as pain persisting longer than 3 months).
- Be classified as a high utilizer of VA in-person outpatient services, defined as having 4 or more in-person primary care, behavioral health, or pain-related visits within the past 6 months.
- Be English-speaking.
- Have access to a telephone (landline or cell phone).
- Have capacity to provide informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
- Individuals will be excluded from the study if they:
- Have moderate to severe cognitive impairment that would interfere with the ability to engage with a text/telephone-based chatbot (as determined through medical record review or clinical judgment).
- Have active psychosis or acute psychiatric instability (e.g., recent psychiatric hospitalization in the past month) that would impair study participation.
- Are enrolled in another conflicting behavioral intervention study.
- Are non-English speaking, due to the current availability of the chatbot only in English.
Where
- Augusta, Georgia
Collaborators
VA Augusta Health Care System
Related conditions & keywords
Frequently asked questions
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.
Is it safe to participate?
Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.
Will I be compensated?
Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.
Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?
When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.
Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?
Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
How long does a clinical trial last?
Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced Aug 20, 2026 · Source of record for eligibility and locations