NCT00708019 - Improving Cancer Pain Management through Self-Care

Study Title: NCT00708019 Improving Cancer Pain Management through Self-Care

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine which of two “doses” of a teaching-coaching nursing intervention is more effective in helping patients reduce their cancer pain. Patients are randomized to receive the intervention over either 12 hours or 8 hours over a period of 10 weeks. A registered nurse visits the participants in their homes to teach them about cancer pain management, how to tailor their schedule of pain medicine for improved pain relief, and how to speak with their health care providers about a change in their pain medicine, if this is needed.

Follow-up visits to determine how long the effects of the intervention last will be done at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after the intervention is completed. In addition, a single specimen of blood will be drawn to study the hereditary (DNA) factors that may be related to the symptoms of pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and depression.

Basic Eligibility Criteria

• Must be 18 years of age or older;
• Must have cancer-related pain in the soft tissues or bones of at least 3 on a 1-10 rating scale;
• Cancer-related pain must not be neuropathic (nerve) pain;
• Must able to read, write, and understand English;
• Must agree to participate and give informed consent;
• Must be receiving outpatient treatment for cancer (not AIDS-related) with any single or combination therapy;
• Must have a life expectancy of at least 6 months;
• Must not be enrolled in hospice;
• Must have a telephone line.
• Must live within a 90-minute driving distance from one of our research sites OR be able to meet the research nurse at the site. 

Contact Information
Clinical Trials Coordinator, El Camino Cancer Center 650-962-4565 or the UCSF Cancer Pain Management Research Office at 415-476-4516.