A Collaborative Intervention for Improving Cancer Pain Management in Rural and Hispanic Cancer Survivors (ASCENT)

Launched by MAYO CLINIC · Dec 27, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The ASCENT clinical trial is looking at a new way to help cancer survivors in rural areas and those of Hispanic descent manage their pain better. Many people with cancer experience pain that isn’t treated well, leading to suffering and difficulties in daily life. This study aims to provide support through a program that includes an educational guide on pain management as well as help from community health workers and pain care managers. They will work with participants to create a personalized plan to manage their pain effectively while also being mindful of the risks of using strong pain medications like opioids.

To be eligible for this study, participants must be at least 18 years old, have a certain type of cancer, and experience significant pain. Specifically, they should have a pain score of 5 out of 10 or higher. This trial is currently recruiting participants, and it offers a chance for those who are rural-dwelling or Hispanic cancer survivors to receive tailored support in managing their pain. If you or someone you know fits this description, this could be an opportunity to improve pain management and overall quality of life.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • A qualifying liquid or solid cancer diagnosis with visits at a participating Mayo site in the past 15 years
• • Including malignant hematology
• • Lymphoma
• • Myeloma
• • Chronic leukemias
• • Age \>= 18
• • Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain score of \>= 5/10
• • Pain that developed or worsened following cancer diagnosis
• • Fit the description of either rural or Hispanic or both
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patient Health Questionnaire - 8 (PHQ8) score of \>= 13
• • Hospice enrollment
• • Skilled nursing facility, inpatient rehabilitation facility, or long-term care placement
• • Encounters with Palliative Care or the Pain Clinic in the past two months or upcoming two months
• • Any mention of hospice referral in medical oncology encounter notes (assess through textual search of the Mayo Data Explorer)
• • Affirmative response to, "Are you usually confined to a bed or chair more than a third of your waking hours because of your health?"
• • Currently homeless
• • Do not feel safe in their home
• • New or worsening chest pain, chest tightness, or chest pressure
• • Back pain that is associated with a new or worsening weakness, control of bowels/bladder, or difficulty walking
• • Lightheadedness, inability to keep down food or fluids, or vomiting blood or dark coffee-grounds-like material
• • New or worsening headaches that are associated with vision changes, nausea, balance issues, or problems with speech
• • Screens positive for use of non-cannabis drug use a a frequency of monthly or greater
• • Inability to engage with the intervention due to medical or psychological reasonse