About the Study

The Persist Study is a University of Michigan research project aimed at helping people manage chronic pain and medications. We need participants like you!

To find out whether you qualify, we’ll ask you some questions about your treatment, substance use, and pain experience. These questions will take about 5 minutes to answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Will My Participation Look Like?

Participation in this study will take place over one year. As a participant in this study, you will be asked to attend up to 8 sessions over the phone or video. These sessions will include education about pain and medication management as well as resources for coping along with weekly surveys about how you’re doing. A baseline survey and interview will be completed as well as five follow up sessions at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after enrollment. You may earn up to $500 for your participation in the full study.

What Might I Get Out of Participation?

While not everyone in our study will benefit, you may receive tools for coping with chronic pain and managing your medications.

What Are My Risks?

There are a few minor risks associated with study involvement. One risk is the unlikely event on a breach of confidentiality. Another possible risk is discomfort while discussing sensitive topics like substance use. Once enrolled in the study, you can stop at any time and skip any questions you do not feel comfortable answering.

How will My Information Be Secured?

Your information and participation will be kept confidential and secure. Information collected about you in this study will not be directly tied to your name, address, or other personal information. Only our study team will have access to this personal information.

How Long Will This Study Take?

The first visit (baseline survey, interview, and information about the study) will take around 2 hours to complete. For those in Group 1, each session (1-8) will last 45-60 minutes each. For Group 2, the second and third sessions will last 5-10 minutes. Weekly surveys will take around 5 minutes to complete. Each follow up event (1-5) will last around 90 minutes. Please see chart in section 8 for more details about timing of study activities. We are able to meet you where you are comfortable to complete the study.

I’m Interested, What Should I Do?

To find out whether you qualify, we’ll ask you some questions about your treatment, substance use, and pain experience. These questions will take about 5 minutes to answer.