Perioperative pain self-management to prevent long-term pain and opioid use
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-11370957 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether a short cognitive-behavioral perioperative pain self-management program helps surgical patients avoid chronic post-surgical pain and prolonged opioid use.
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 | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003225-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370957 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults scheduled for surgery—particularly Veterans—who are worried about post-surgical pain or opioid use and who can participate in brief perioperative behavioral sessions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with long-standing chronic pain unrelated to the upcoming surgery or those unable to take part in brief behavioral sessions may be unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
If you are having surgery, researchers offer a brief perioperative program called PePS that teaches pain self-management and CBT-based coping skills before and after surgery. In a randomized trial, some patients receive PePS plus usual care while others receive standard care, and outcomes like chronic pain and length of opioid use after surgery are tracked. The study focuses on Veterans and will examine whether people with substance use disorders respond differently. The aim is to prevent the development of long-term pain and prolonged opioid use rather than treating established chronic pain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could reduce the chance of chronic post-surgical pain and lower rates of prolonged opioid use after surgery.
How similar studies have gone: CBT and psychological interventions have helped people with chronic pain, but using a CBT-style program specifically to prevent chronic post-surgical pain is a newer, less-tested 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.
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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.