Culturally tailored pain care for American Indian and Alaska Native adults in the Pacific Northwest

Culturally Adapted Pain Management for Indigenous Peoples in the Pacific Northwest (CAP-I)

NIH-funded research University of California, San Diego · NIH-11209571

This project offers a pain-management program adapted to the cultures and needs of American Indian and Alaska Native adults and will run a small randomized pilot at tribal health clinics.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Diego NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (La Jolla, United States)
Project IDNIH-11209571 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be invited to a pain-management program that was created with input from tribal community members. During an earlier phase, focus groups helped develop a treatment manual, workbooks, and culturally appropriate procedures. In the R00 phase the team will run a small randomized pilot at the Portland Area Indian Health Service – Yakama Service Unit to test feasibility, follow-up, and acceptability. The pilot will inform a larger future trial while aiming to honor tribal context and patient preferences.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are American Indian or Alaska Native adults (age 21+) with chronic pain who receive care at the Portland Area Indian Health Service – Yakama Service Unit or nearby tribal clinics.

Not a fit: People younger than 21, non–American Indian/Alaska Native individuals, or patients who cannot attend the participating clinic are unlikely to benefit from this specific program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide culturally acceptable pain-coping skills and expand treatment options for American Indian and Alaska Native patients with chronic pain.

How similar studies have performed: General psychosocial pain treatments have helped other populations, but culturally adapted interventions for AI/AN communities are relatively new and have not been widely tested.

Where this research is happening

La Jolla, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.