• The RAMP program is a 13-week virtual program including two 60-minute 1-on-1 sessions with a Whole Health Coach (one at the beginning and one at the end of the program), and 11 weekly 90-minute interactive group sessions with pre-recorded expert led education videos, mind-body skill training and practice, and facilitated discussions.
• The goal of the RAMP mind-body program is to provide Veterans with information and tools that can help them manage their pain and improve quality of life. The program explores the important connection between our bodies and minds, and how to use this special connection to cope with pain more effectively. 
• The RAMP program involves working with a group of fellow Veterans and VA Whole Health Coach to develop and execute a personalized plan to manage your pain more effectively.
• RAMP group sessions include education and training in different tools and strategies. These include:
  • Mind-body strategies to reduce stress and manage pain. Examples include relaxed breathing, meditation, guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, and mini-practices that can be done anytime, anywhere. 
  • Physical exercises that focus on the body’s main muscles and joints to increase mobility, make daily activities more comfortable, and manage pain symptoms. Examples include posture, stretch, and strength exercises with different options to meet individuals’ needs. 
  • Discussions with fellow Veterans with pain to share experiences, stay on track with goals, problem solve, and support one another.

• To participant in the study, you will fill out a survey to assess your health and pain. This survey will take about 20-30 min and you will receive $25 for completing this survey.
• You will participate in the Group Mind-Body RAMP program, which is a 13-week virtual program:
  • including two 60-minute individual sessions with a Whole Health Coach (one at the beginning and one at the end)
  • 11 weekly 90-minute group sessions with pre-recorded expert led education videos, mind-body skill training and practice, and facilitated discussions with other Veterans in the group.
• You will receive a follow-up survey after the 13-week program. This survey will be about 20-30 min and you will receive $25 for completing this survey.

The Ramp Team is a group of researchers, healthcare providers, and Veterans, committed to improving pain care for all Veterans.

The RAMP team, with input from Veterans like you, has created a new online mind-body program for pain. Our goal is to give Veteran new tools and support to better manage and cope with their pain and improve quality of life and to determine if the program works and what Veterans think of it.

We’re trying to reach rural patients in the VA system with chronic pain. Following HIPAA regulations, we identified Veterans who meet certain criteria through a secure system and are reaching out individually to see if this might be a good fit for you. 

This study is funded by the National Institute for Nursing Research (NINR), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Our grant number is 1UG3NR020929-01. 

The program is free to participate in. If you’re eligible to be in the study, we’ll ask you to do 2 surveys – one at the beginning and one at the end of your participation. You’ll receive $25 for completing each survey.

Because of the study design, we’re unfortunately not able to take unsolicited volunteers. Each person invited to participate was randomly selected from a pool of pre-screened candidates who meet the criteria of this research project.

No. Participation in the RAMP study will not affect your service connection or disability compensation. Any information that you share with study staff will remain confidential and only be shared with people on the RAMP study research team. Information collected will not be included in your medical records and will not affect any future claims

Yes. The study is a multi-year, multi-phase project and the result of the completed study will be published at the end of the project. It will take several years before the results are ready to share.

Emails from the RAMP project will come from [email protected] or [email protected] . We will never ask you to share private information via email. Feel free to call us at 877-467-5079. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, or you want to make sure this is a valid VA study, you may contact the Minneapolis VAHCS IRB. This is the Board that is responsible for overseeing the safety of human participants in this study. You may call 612-629-7387, if you have questions, complaints or concerns about the study or if you would like to obtain information or offer input.

Whole Health is VA’s approach to care that supports your health and well-being. Whole Health centers around what matters to you, not what is the matter with you. This means your health team will get to know you as a person, before working with you to develop a personalized health plan based on your values, needs, and goals.
https://www.va.gov/wholehealth/

Mind-body strategies are skills that use the connection between our mind and body to reduce stress and manage pain. Some examples of mind-body strategies used in the RAMP program are relaxed breathing, meditation, guided imagery, and progressive muscle relaxation.

No. The RAMP program is 100% virtual. You will be meeting with your facilitator and group using Webex, a virtual platform.

• Internet connection
• Computer/tablet/smart phone with video and microphone capabilities