Perioperative pain self-management to prevent long-term pain and opioid use
Preventing Chronic Post-Surgical Pain and Prolonged Opioid Use: The Perioperative Pain Self-Management Program
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 ID | NIH-11370957 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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, United States
- 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.
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 below.