PATIENT SKILLS FOR CANCER PAIN CONTROL IN PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC BREAST OR PROSTATE CANCER

Trial Information

PATIENT SKILLS FOR CANCER PAIN CONTROL IN PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC BREAST OR PROSTATE CANCER

OBJECTIVES:

- Evaluate the feasibility of implementing an outpatient education and behavioral skills
training program for pain control in a multi-institution setting.

- Evaluate whether patient education and behavioral skills training improve cancer pain
control in patients with recurrent or metastatic breast or prostate cancer.

- Amend the protocol, with the approval of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control,
to a groupwide 3-arm study if analysis demonstrates feasibility and potential efficacy
of the patient education and behavioral skills training program.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. Patients are stratified according to diagnosis (breast
vs prostate cancer), initial "pain worst" score (4-6 vs 7 or higher), and participating
institution. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

- Arm I: Patients receive standard pain management.

- Arm II: Patients receive educational intervention (booklets, audiotapes, and
videotapes) and behavioral skills training (including a schedule of practice relaxation
sessions) in addition to standard pain management. Patients receive a follow-up phone
call within 48-72 hours of intervention to review pain status.

Patients on both arms undergo pain and psychological assessments on days 1 and 15.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 96 patients (48 per arm) will be accrued for this study.