Web-based Pain Coping Skills Training for Breast Cancer Survivors With AI-Associated Arthralgia

Study Purpose

The main goal of this clinical trial is to test benefits of completing online pain coping skills training program in women who have been diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer, who have completed their primary cancer treatment, who are taking an AI medication, and who have arthralgia. Arthralgia is a type of joint, bone, and muscle pain that is a common side effect of AI medications. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Whether online pain coping skills training reduces the severity of pain and the interference it causes in women's daily lives. 2. Whether online pain coping skills training improves emotional distress, quality of life, and adherence to AI medications. 3. Whether benefits of online pain coping skills training are at least partially caused by women's increased confidence that they can manage their pain and a reduction in unhelpful thinking patterns about pain. 4. Whether online pain coping skills training improves effects of AI medications on sleep problems and symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and night sweats. Participants can complete all parts of the study at home. They will: 1. Complete four sets of questionnaires throughout the study, which will take about 9 to 10 months. 2. Attend 3 meetings in the first month of the study, all of which can be held via a video conference. 3. Use an electronic pill bottle to track their use of their AI medication. 4. Be randomized (like flipping a coin) to one of two study arms: They will either receive education about AIs and arthralgia or they will receive this education along with access to an online pain coping skills training program. Research will compare the education group to the education plus online pain coping skills training group to see if online pain coping skills training has the benefits mentioned above.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms	No
Study Type An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes. An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes. Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.	Interventional
Eligible Ages	18 Years and Over
Gender	Female

More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

- Female sex.

- Aged 18 years old or older.

- Diagnosed with Stage I-III hormone receptor positive breast cancer.

- Completed primary cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy) - Postmenopausal.

- Currently taking AI therapy (letrozole, exemestane, or anastrozole) - Reporting musculoskeletal pain that developed or worsened since starting AI therapy.

- Reporting at least 15 days of pain in the past 30 days.

- A worst pain rating of 4 or more on an 11 point (0-10) numerical rating scale in the past week.

- Based on known factors affecting their prognosis, patient is likely to be able to complete the study protocol.

- ECOG performance status of 0-2.

- English proficient.

- If participants are taking analgesics, they must be on a stable analgesic regimen for at least 14 days prior to enrollment and should not have planned upward dose titration of their analgesics during the study period.

(Note: Patients may elect to decrease their analgesic use during the study as per discussion with their provider. Unexpected dose adjustments including dose escalations due to unforeseen clinical need is allowed. Cannabis taken for pain relief would qualify as an analgesic)

- Comfortable using a tablet computer, a computer, or a smartphone to access online training.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Evidence of metastatic disease.

- Other active cancer (with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer) - Completed chemotherapy or radiation therapy less than four weeks prior to enrollment (these treatments can cause temporary exacerbation of musculoskeletal symptoms that typically resolve spontaneously) - Completed surgery less than 8 weeks prior to enrollment (because surgery can cause temporary post-surgical pain that typically resolves in this period of time); minor surgeries may be allowed more recently than 8 weeks at the discretion of the study team.

- Have diagnosed or suspected condition that would interfere with informed consent or completion of study activities (e.g., significant impairment in cognition or uncorrected hearing/vision)

Trial Details

Trial ID: This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.	NCT05703178
Phase Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans. Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data. Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs. Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.	Phase 3
Lead Sponsor The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.	Northwestern University
Principal Investigator The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.	N/A
Principal Investigator Affiliation	N/A
Agency Class Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.	Other, NIH
Overall Status	Recruiting
Countries	United States
Conditions The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.	Breast Cancer, Arthralgia, Pain, Chronic

Arms & Interventions

Arms

Experimental: Education + Online Pain Coping Skill Training

Participants will receive their usual medical care and an educational booklet with information about Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs), side effects they cause including painful arthralgia, methods for managing arthralgia, and tips for talking with doctors about arthralgia and other AI side effects. They will also be given access to an online pain coping skills training program and asked to complete it at home over 8 to 10 weeks. This interactive, web-based program teaches cognitive and behavioral skills that research has shown can reduce pain and pain-related interference with daily activities. The program includes eight sessions that participants will complete at a rate of about 1 per week. Each session takes 35-45 minutes. Participants will be shown how to use the program and can contact the study team if they have any problems with it. Participants who do not have a device capable of accessing the program will be loaned a tablet computer for the study.

Active Comparator: Education

Interventions

Behavioral: - Online Pain Coping Skills Training

The intervention is completed online, using a personal computer, tablet computer, or smartphone. It includes 8 interactive sessions, each of which teaches users a different pain coping skill. Participants are asked to practice these skills in their daily lives to manage pain and pain-related symptoms and problems. Each session takes 35 to 45 minutes to complete. Participants can take breaks during the sessions and review them at any time after completing them.

Other: - Education

Contact a Trial Team

If you are interested in learning more about this trial, find the trial site nearest to your location and contact the site coordinator via email or phone. We also strongly recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider about the trials that may interest you and refer to our terms of service below.

Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois

Status

Recruiting

Address

Northwestern University

Chicago, Illinois, 60611

Site Contact

Christine Rini, PhD

[email protected]

312-503-7715

Duke University, Durham, North Carolina

Status

Recruiting

Address

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina, 27708

Site Contact

Tamara Somers

[email protected]

919-416-3408

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