COMMPPaS: Persistent physical complaints

Introduction

Persistent physical complaints are disturbing physical symptoms that last several months or longer. Examples include chronic pain, gastrointestinal problems and fatigue. These complaints occur in well-treated medical conditions, but also when no medical cause has been found. The exact cause of the complaints is therefore not the most important. The impact of persistent physical complaints is often substantial. Knowledge about your own body may influence the impact of persistent physical complaints. We investigate this in the COMMPPaS study. 

In this study, participants are shown data about their bodies. For four weeks, participants daily view data about their bodies. For two weeks, they read general facts about their bodies (e.g. length of intestines, difference between muscle types). For two other weeks, participants view data about their own bodies (heart rate, sleep duration and blood oxygen levels) that they measure with an activity tracker (smartwatch).

Project overview

Objective:

To investigate how viewing data about their body influences how participants estimate 

• what the negative consequences of persistent physical symptoms are.
• their own health quality.

Study population:

Military servicemembers with persistent physical complaints.

Timeframe:

Expected: from the second half of 2024 to the second half of 2025.

Results:

Expected in 2026.