An Artificial Intelligence Driven Approach to Optimize Patient Selection for a Transitional Pain Service
NCT ID: NCT07296770
Last Updated: 2025-12-22
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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NOT_YET_RECRUITING
PHASE3
126 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2026-05-01
2028-07-01
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
NONE
Study Groups
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Transitional Pain Service
Patients assigned to the Transitional Pain Service group will receive extra support before and after surgery to help with pain and recovery. This may include educational videos, meetings with a pain pharmacist for safe medication use and tapering, mental health screening with referrals to supportive resources, and physical therapy. Patients may also be offered pain-relief procedures or treatments such as nerve blocks, injections, imaging, or other outpatient therapies provided by pain specialists. These services are meant to support recovery, and patients may choose how much to participate while remaining in the study even if all activities are not completed.
TPS-Select
TPS-Select is a computer-based tool that helps the research team identify patients who may be eligible for this study. It uses information that already exists in the medical record at the time a surgery is scheduled to estimate the chance of developing ongoing pain after surgery. This information can include details about the planned surgery, prior medical conditions, past surgeries, and previous use of pain medications.
The tool runs automatically and is used only to help the research team decide whom to contact about possible participation in the study. The risk estimate created by this tool is not added to the medical record and is not seen by the patient's care team. Only approved members of the research team can see this information through a secure research system.
Pharmacologic Pain Management
A pharmacist will meet with patients as part of the Transitional Pain Service before and after surgery. During this visit, the pharmacist will work with patients to create a personalized pain management plan, using the medications stated in this intervention to help safely and effectively control pain. This will guide patients on the proper use of opioid analgesics and non-opioid analgesics, including acetaminophen, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, gabapentinoids, and topical medications to manage surgical pain.
Interventional Pain Procedures
If a patient has significant pain after their surgery, the care team may evaluate the patient for additional pain-relief options, such as the interventional pain procedures listed above. Local numbing medication or imaging studies may also be used to ensure the treatment is safe and appropriate. All anesthesiologists on the pain service are specially trained to perform these procedures. Only approved procedures will be offered, along with any imaging needed for evaluation.
Psychological Management and Pain Education
Patients will be asked to complete short online pain education modules to help set expectations and prepare for pain after surgery. These materials are available at https://www.transitionalpainservice.ca/learn. Each patient will also be screened for mood-related concerns, including symptoms of depression, using a brief questionnaire. If a patient has significant symptoms of depression, they may be referred to a pain psychologist and, if needed, a UCSF psychiatrist for additional support. These visits may include proven approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness-based strategies to help patients manage pain, cope with stress, and improve daily functioning. Patients with milder symptoms may be referred to group-based pain psychology sessions led by a pain psychologist.
Physical Therapy
Patients will be assessed for their physical function and ability to carry out daily activities. If a patient has difficulty with mobility, strength, or endurance, they may be referred to physical or occupational therapy before surgery to help improve overall conditioning. Pre-surgery therapy may include exercises to strengthen the core, arms, and legs, improve balance, and build stamina, as well as an overall fitness assessment. Referrals will only be made if it is safe for the patient to participate, and standard safety checks-such as heart health and fall risk-will be completed beforehand. All therapy will be provided by a licensed physical therapist using established, evidence-based treatment plans.
Usual Care
In this arm, patients will receive usual surgical care. However, patients will still complete the questionnaires and will also have the option of a pharmacist wellness check-in at 60 days after surgery.
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
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TPS-Select
TPS-Select is a computer-based tool that helps the research team identify patients who may be eligible for this study. It uses information that already exists in the medical record at the time a surgery is scheduled to estimate the chance of developing ongoing pain after surgery. This information can include details about the planned surgery, prior medical conditions, past surgeries, and previous use of pain medications.
The tool runs automatically and is used only to help the research team decide whom to contact about possible participation in the study. The risk estimate created by this tool is not added to the medical record and is not seen by the patient's care team. Only approved members of the research team can see this information through a secure research system.
Pharmacologic Pain Management
A pharmacist will meet with patients as part of the Transitional Pain Service before and after surgery. During this visit, the pharmacist will work with patients to create a personalized pain management plan, using the medications stated in this intervention to help safely and effectively control pain. This will guide patients on the proper use of opioid analgesics and non-opioid analgesics, including acetaminophen, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, gabapentinoids, and topical medications to manage surgical pain.
Interventional Pain Procedures
If a patient has significant pain after their surgery, the care team may evaluate the patient for additional pain-relief options, such as the interventional pain procedures listed above. Local numbing medication or imaging studies may also be used to ensure the treatment is safe and appropriate. All anesthesiologists on the pain service are specially trained to perform these procedures. Only approved procedures will be offered, along with any imaging needed for evaluation.
Psychological Management and Pain Education
Patients will be asked to complete short online pain education modules to help set expectations and prepare for pain after surgery. These materials are available at https://www.transitionalpainservice.ca/learn. Each patient will also be screened for mood-related concerns, including symptoms of depression, using a brief questionnaire. If a patient has significant symptoms of depression, they may be referred to a pain psychologist and, if needed, a UCSF psychiatrist for additional support. These visits may include proven approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness-based strategies to help patients manage pain, cope with stress, and improve daily functioning. Patients with milder symptoms may be referred to group-based pain psychology sessions led by a pain psychologist.
Physical Therapy
Patients will be assessed for their physical function and ability to carry out daily activities. If a patient has difficulty with mobility, strength, or endurance, they may be referred to physical or occupational therapy before surgery to help improve overall conditioning. Pre-surgery therapy may include exercises to strengthen the core, arms, and legs, improve balance, and build stamina, as well as an overall fitness assessment. Referrals will only be made if it is safe for the patient to participate, and standard safety checks-such as heart health and fall risk-will be completed beforehand. All therapy will be provided by a licensed physical therapist using established, evidence-based treatment plans.
Other Intervention Names
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Are 18 years or older
* Are having a planned (elective) surgery at UCSF
* Are identified as higher risk for chronic pain after surgery by a computer model
* Agree to join the study and sign consent
Patients cannot take part if they:
* Have too much missing information in their medical record (more than 75%)
* Have a surgery scheduled less than 1 month away
* Have serious memory or thinking problems that make participation difficult
* Are in another clinical study that would interfere with this one
* Do not live in California
* Choose not to participate or sign consent
* Have severe depression with suicidal thoughts that requires urgent care
* Are pregnant or breastfeeding
A patient who has already joined may be removed from the study if they:
* Cannot complete most of the scheduled follow-up phone calls or pre-surgery recommendations (up to 6 months after discharge)
* Pass away between the surgery booking date and 6 months after leaving the hospital
* Become pregnant in the 6 months after discharge
Patients may remain enrolled but their data may not be used in the main study results if they experience:
* A long-lasting infection after surgery
* Hardware problems related to their surgery (for example, issues with implanted devices)
* A major injury or life event that affects their pain levels, such as a significant fall or an emergency surgery
* Difficulty completing the planned follow-up phone calls up to 6 months after discharge
18 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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University of California, San Francisco
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Principal Investigators
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Andrew Bishara, MD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
UCSF Department of Anesthesia
Locations
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UCSF Hospitals
San Francisco, California, United States
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Andrew Bishara, MD
Role: primary
Other Identifiers
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24-42631
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id