Behavioral Pain Intervention for Older Cancer Patients

Duke University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Breast Cancer

Treatments: Behavioral: Pain Coping Skills Training (PCST)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT07300995

P30AG022845 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Pro00117948

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized controlled trial examines a 1-session, telehealth pain coping skills training (PCST) protocol with five 15-minute maintenance calls (Brief PCST-Community) adapted for women with breast cancer in medically underserved areas. Pain, health-related quality of life, and self-efficacy for pain management will be assessed at baseline and 10 and 15 weeks later.

Full description

Pain continues to be persistent, interfering, and distressing for women with breast cancer. Behavioral cancer pain interventions continue to be poorly implemented with pronounced disparities for older breast cancer patients receiving oncology care in medically underserved areas. Within this context, this randomized controlled trial examines a 1-session, telehealth pain coping skills training (PCST) protocol with five 15-minute maintenance calls (Brief PCST-Community) adapted for women with breast cancer in medically underserved areas. Pain, health-related quality of life, and self-efficacy for pain management will be assessed at baseline and 10 and 15 weeks later.

Enrollment: 168 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 55+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Receiving cancer care at a Duke Cancer Network (DCN) clinic
• Stage I-IV breast cancer
• Self-reported pain on at least 10 days in the last month and pain rating of worst pain of 4 or greater on a 0-10 scale in the last week
• Biologically female
• Greater than or equal to 55 years old
• Ability to speak and read English
• Hearing and vision that allows for successful completion of videoconferencing and phone session

Exclusion criteria

• Participation in the last 6 months in a pain coping skills training program

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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168 participants in 2 patient groups

Pain Coping Skills Training

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this group will complete a 50-minute telehealth session with a trained study nurse. During this session, they will be taught how to use several coping strategies for managing pain. This will be followed by 5 weekly, 15-minute supportive phone calls, where the study nurse will reinforce the learned coping skills. They will be asked to complete 2 follow-up surveys (10 weeks and 15 weeks after the first survey).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Pain Coping Skills Training (PCST)

Usual Care

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in this group will not complete the new program. They will be asked to complete 2 follow-up surveys (10 and 15 weeks after the first survey).