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SPARK Program for Pain and Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults

This study is testing a program called SPARK (Strength and Pain-Coping through Resilience and Knowledge) for older adults who experience chronic pain and depressive symptoms. The SPARK program involves 8 home visits from a nurse who will help you manage your pain and mood. Researchers want to see if this program can reduce how much pain interferes with your daily life, lessen your pain intensity, and improve your depressive symptoms. You might be able to join if you are 50 or older, live in Central Maryland, have chronic pain (scoring above 3 out of 10) that limits your activities, and have depressive symptoms (scoring 5 or higher on a depression measure). The study aims to enroll 100 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study with a planned enrollment of 100 participants. It is not specified if the study is randomized or blinded.
What's involved
You would receive 8 individualized weekly home visits from a nurse. Your pain intensity, pain interference, and depressive symptoms will be measured at the start, at 12 weeks, and at 24 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your progress will be followed for 24 weeks after the start of the study.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07228520

Strength and Pain-Coping Through Resilience and Knowledge

Recruiting
NAAges 50+InterventionalTreatment
Johns Hopkins University
~100 participants
Updated 2026-07-22 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:SPARK

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in Pain Intensity as assessed by the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)
Measured over Baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks
+3 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Pain
Depressive Symptoms
Aging

Explore related trials

PainSymptoms of depression

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Maryland1

Study leadership

  • Janiece L Taylor, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
  • Meagan Clemence, MA · STUDY_DIRECTOR · Johns Hopkins University

Who to contact

Janiece Taylor, PhD
[email protected]
443-287-4503
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Self-report pain \>3 out of a 0 -10 scale that has lasted longer than 3 months and keeps subjects from doing at least one activity that subjects would like to do
Live in the community
Live in Central Maryland
Score a 5 or higher on the PHQ-9 (depression measure) at least two times during a two week period (screening call and then at first data collection visit)
Must be pre-frail (one or two criteria on frailty phenotype) or frail (three or more of the criteria on frailty phenotype)
One ADL or IADL limitation

Exclusion

Hospitalized \> 3 times in the last year
Participating in physical therapy
Have a terminal diagnosis (\<1 year expected survival)
\> moderate intellectual impairment (5-7 errors) based on the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ)
Unable to speak or understand English

What this trial measures

  • Change in Pain Intensity as assessed by the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)Baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks

    The PROMIS Intensity is used to measure pain intensity on a scale of 0-10. Higher scores indicate more pain intensity.

  • Change in Pain Interference as assessed by the PROMIS Pain InterferenceBaseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks

    The Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference is a six item scale used to measure how much pain interferes with activities. The scores can range from 6-30. Higher scores indicate more pain interference with activities.

  • Change in Depressive Symptoms as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9)Baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks

    The Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) includes 9 questions related to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) diagnostic criteria for major depression. The PHQ-9 scores range from 0-27. Higher scores indicate more depressive symptoms.

  • Change in Depressive Symptoms as assessed by the PROMIS 57Baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks

    The Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement System (PROMIS)57 the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) 57, which is includes an 8-item instrument that can be used to measure self-reported negative mood, view of self, and somatic symptoms. The score range for PROMIS 57 is 8-40. Higher scores indicate more depressive symptoms.