Adolescent Cancer Telemedicine for Pain Management

Summary

Pain in adolescents undergoing treatment for cancer is a common problem, often related to treatment or to the cancer itself. Due to increasing outpatient-based cancer treatment, the burden of care and pain management has shifted to the home environment. Yet, there are limited interventions that target the management of pain at home. Adolescence is marked by increased need for independence and social integration, both of which can be impaired by pain or fear of pain. To address unique needs during this developmental period, this study will test a telemedicine program to enhance pain knowledge and pain control strategies in adolescents ages 12-21 years who are undergoing treatment for cancer.

Fifty-six teens will be randomized to an intervention or wait-list control condition. Patients randomized to the waitlist control condition will receive the intervention following completion of the waitlist condition. The intervention will consist of four weekly 30-45 minute telemedicine (online via videoconferencing platform) sessions with a trained social work or psychology provider. Sessions will focus on pain psychoeducation, coping tools, communication, and stress management. Participants will complete online questionnaires assessing pain coping, pain management, and pain-related impairment at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 1- and 2-month follow-up.

Conditions

• Cancer

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Telemedicine Pain Management Intervention (immediate group)

Four weekly telemedicine pain management sessions with a trained provider. Intervention will be delivered via video conferencing platform, and each session will last between 30 and 45 minutes. Intervention topics will include: pain psychoeducation, pain coping tools, pain communication, and pain-related stress management.

BEHAVIORAL

Telemedicine Pain Management Intervention (waitlist group, intervention administered following 4-week waitlist period)

Four week waitlist period during which participants receive treatment as usual. Following the waitlist period, participants will receive the telemedicine pain management intervention: Four weekly telemedicine pain management sessions with a trained provider. Intervention will be delivered via video conferencing platform, and each session will last between 30 and 45 minutes. Intervention topics will include: pain psychoeducation, pain coping tools, pain communication, and pain-related stress management.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research

  collaborator OTHER

• Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of California, Los Angeles

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Lonnie K Zeltzer, MD · UCLA Pediatric Pain and Palliative Care Program

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

12 Years

Max Age

21 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-05-03

Primary Completion

2020-07-01

Completion

2020-07-01

Countries

• United States

Study Locations