A study to help manage chronic pain in cancer survivors through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) after undergoing active cancer treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation.
This study attempts to apply effective pain management interventions from other chronic pain populations to those of cancer related populations. It will assess the ability of ACT to alleviate chronic cancer related pain and evaluate ease of implementation of treatment. Patients will be allocated to either the intervention group (ACT) or the control group, getting them the usual course of treatment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
50
Intervention group participants will attend eight weekly, 90-minute, in person, group-based ACT sessions. Groups will be initiated with no more than 10 participants and no fewer than 6 participants. Sessions will include key theoretical ACT constructs and strategies as they relate to chronic pain. A licensed clinical psychologist or licensed clinical social worker trained in ACT will facilitate all sessions. Participants in the ACT intervention group will also continue to receive medication management and other behavioral management interventions that they would get as usual treatment.
Treatment as usual will include ongoing provision of usual treatment options for pain management. This includes continued medication management for cancer related chronic pain by prescribing providers, and access to supportive oncology services. It may also include other behavioral pain management such as physical therapy, acupuncture, or massage.
University of Colorado Hospital
Aurora, Colorado, United States
The Degree of Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: [Impact]
Use the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey to assess physical health. Min = 0 Max = 100 Higher scores are better.
Time frame: From baseline to 12 weeks post intervention
The Degree of Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: [Impact]
Use the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey to assess emotional wellbeing. Min=0 Max=100 Higher scores indicate better emotional wellbeing.
Time frame: From baseline to 12 weeks post intervention
Number of Participants Who Want to Use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a Method for Treating Chronic Pain Post Active Cancer Treatment Active Cancer Treatment
Feasibility of the intervention will be assessed through the collection of participant enrollment and adherence data throughout the intervention period and follow-up. We report the count of participants at each therapy session. Therapy sessions were held from baseline through week 8.
Time frame: From baseline to end of intervention (weeks 1- 8)
The Degree to Which Patients Enjoy Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a Method for Treating Chronic Pain Post Active Cancer Treatment: [Acceptability]
Acceptability of the intervention will be assessed through weekly ratings using a 5-point Likert scale for each session with intervention group members. The mean score is reported. Min = 1, Max = 5. Higher scores are better (i.e., indicate greater acceptability of the intervention).
Time frame: From baseline to end of intervention (weeks 1- 8)
The Ability of Methodological Strategies Used to Monitor and Enhance the Reliability and Validity of ACT: [Fidelity]
Fidelity of the treatment will be assessed through the use of a standardized checklist of core intervention components. It is measured as the mean percent of content checklist items presented to groups each week.
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Time frame: From baseline to end of intervention (weeks 1- 8)