A program to prevent chronic pain and reduce opioid use after surgery
Official title: Preventing Chronic Post-Surgical Pain and Prolonged Opioid Use: The Perioperative Pain Self-Management Program
Funded at Iowa City VA Medical Center · NIH-10923831 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new program that helps patients manage their pain before and after surgery using helpful mental strategies, like talking through their feelings, to make recovery easier and reduce the need for strong pain medications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Iowa City VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003225-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10923831 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients scheduled for surgery who may be at risk for developing chronic pain or prolonged opioid use.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing surgery or those with established chronic pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new program designed to help patients manage pain before and after surgery, focusing on psychological strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). By addressing psychological distress before surgery, the program aims to prevent the transition from acute to chronic pain and reduce the need for long-term opioid use. Patients will be randomly assigned to either this new pain self-management program or standard care to evaluate its effectiveness. The goal is to enhance overall recovery and improve quality of life for surgical patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of chronic pain and the reliance on opioids after surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that psychological interventions like CBT can be effective in managing pain, suggesting potential success for this preventive approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Iowa City VA Medical Center
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hadlandsmyth, Katherine E. — Iowa City VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Hadlandsmyth, Katherine E.
Related research
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Perioperative pain self-management to prevent long-term pain and opioid use
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.