Pain Management Support Study for Cancer Survivors

NCT ID: NCT03782506

Last Updated: 2022-02-21

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 27 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2018-11-01
• Study Completion Date: 2021-12-31

Brief Summary

Pain in cancer survivors is difficult to treat, and unrelieved pain can greatly reduce a person's quality of life. Opioids are often prescribed for pain management, yet they can have undesirable side effects and may put someone at risk for addiction or dependence. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of an interactive music therapy intervention on pain management and opioid use in cancer survivors.

Detailed Description

As many as 40% of cancer survivors report experiencing chronic pain, and recent research indicates that pain is not well managed. Opioids are often prescribed during active cancer treatment for pain management, and many cancer survivors continue the same pain management regimen long after completing their cancer treatment. Reports indicate that prescription rates are up to 1.22 times higher for cancer cancer survivors than people without a cancer diagnosis, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends that opioid tapering should be a priority once someone moves into survivorship status. Music interventions have been used for pain management in people with cancer, yet few studies have examined music therapy for chronic pain in cancer survivors. Moreover, none of these studies have not examined opioid use as a measure. Therefore, the overarching goals of this pilot study are to investigate the impact of an interactive music therapy (IMT) intervention on pain management and opioid use in cancer survivors with chronic pain versus a verbal-based support program (social attention control). This pilot study uses a mixed methods intervention design in which qualitative data (i.e. semi-structured follow-up interviews) are embedded within a randomized controlled trial. We will randomize 40 cancer survivors to one of two 10-session treatments: 1) Interactive Music Therapy or 2) Social Attention Control. Primary (mean daily opioid use) and secondary outcomes (pain intensity, pain interference, pain-related self-efficacy, patient perception of change, and physician perception of change in pain management) will be measured at baseline, post-intervention and 3-month follow-up. Follow-up interviews with a subsample of 12 participants and 4 physicians will enable us to gain a better understanding of potential treatment benefits, learn about challenges encountered, and obtain suggestions for treatment optimization. This is the first music therapy study to examine the benefits of music therapy for opioid tapering in cancer survivors with chronic pain and the results will be used to establish estimates of variance for sample size calculations for a larger-scale randomized control trial.

Conditions

Pain, Chronic; Opioid Use

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Interactive Music Therapy

Ten 45-minute individual interactive music therapy sessions.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Interactive Music Therapy

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Ten 45-minutes individual interactive music therapy (IMT) sessions delivered by a board-certified music therapist. Sessions start with music-guided breathing or humming. The music therapist then engages the participant in singing of familiar songs and co-created vocal or instrumental music improvisations. Discussion about the meaning assigned to songs and emotions expressed through the improvisations follow. Each session involves learning and practicing music-based techniques for the self-management of pain, anxiety, stress, mood, fatigue, and sleep disturbance as these are common opioid withdrawal symptoms. Psychoeducation about opioid tapering is provided and tapering challenges experienced by the patient will be actively addressed through music-based interventions.

Verbal-based Support

Ten 45-minute individual verbal support sessions.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Verbal-based support

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Ten 45-minute individual sessions delivered by a master's level clinician with training in counseling. The sessions are focused on patient-initiated conversations about their pain, life stressors and the impact on their daily life. The intervener provides nondirective, supportive care by offering supportive, validating statements and reflective listening. The intervener refrains from employing active suggestion, problem-solving or behavioral or cognitive therapy techniques. The verbal support sessions are aimed at providing an empathic, therapeutic environment to facilitate emotional expression and sharing of worries and fears. As in the IMT protocol, psychoeducation about opioid tapering will be included and will be considered the only active treatment factor for this intervention.

Interventions

Interactive Music Therapy

Ten 45-minutes individual interactive music therapy (IMT) sessions delivered by a board-certified music therapist. Sessions start with music-guided breathing or humming. The music therapist then engages the participant in singing of familiar songs and co-created vocal or instrumental music improvisations. Discussion about the meaning assigned to songs and emotions expressed through the improvisations follow. Each session involves learning and practicing music-based techniques for the self-management of pain, anxiety, stress, mood, fatigue, and sleep disturbance as these are common opioid withdrawal symptoms. Psychoeducation about opioid tapering is provided and tapering challenges experienced by the patient will be actively addressed through music-based interventions.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Verbal-based support

Ten 45-minute individual sessions delivered by a master's level clinician with training in counseling. The sessions are focused on patient-initiated conversations about their pain, life stressors and the impact on their daily life. The intervener provides nondirective, supportive care by offering supportive, validating statements and reflective listening. The intervener refrains from employing active suggestion, problem-solving or behavioral or cognitive therapy techniques. The verbal support sessions are aimed at providing an empathic, therapeutic environment to facilitate emotional expression and sharing of worries and fears. As in the IMT protocol, psychoeducation about opioid tapering will be included and will be considered the only active treatment factor for this intervention.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• adult cancer survivors
• chronic pain for ≥ 3 months
• chronic opioid use (i.e., use of opioids for more than 90 days)
• willingness to reduce the amount of opioids currently taking

Exclusion Criteria

• history of polysubstance abuse/substance use disorder
• currently receiving methadone maintenance or suboxone treatment
• active psychosis or dementia
• inability to speak or write English
• moderate to severe hearing impairment

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Drexel University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Joke Bradt

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Joke Bradt, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Drexel University

Locations

Hahnemann University Hospital

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Thomas Jefferson Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

3R01NR016681-02S1

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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