Reducing the stigma of opioid use in cancer pain management
Official title: Development and piloting of an intervention to reduce the impact of opioid stigma in cancer pain
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10909030 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a friendly program to help people with advanced cancer pain feel more comfortable using opioids, so they can manage their pain better without worrying about the stigma that comes with it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $145,752 |
| NIH project number | 5K08CA263317-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10909030 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with advanced cancer who experience moderate-to-severe pain and may require opioid medications for effective pain management.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have advanced cancer or do not experience significant pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop and test an intervention designed to reduce the stigma associated with opioid use among patients suffering from advanced cancer pain. It recognizes that while opioids are effective for managing severe pain, the stigma surrounding their use can lead to negative health outcomes, including poor communication with healthcare providers and inadequate pain management. The study will involve gathering insights from diverse patient populations, particularly those from underserved communities, to ensure the intervention is comprehensive and effective. By addressing the emotional and social barriers related to opioid use, the research seeks to improve overall patient well-being and quality of life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved pain management and quality of life for patients with advanced cancer by reducing the stigma associated with opioid use.
How similar studies have gone: While the issue of opioid stigma has been recognized, this specific intervention targeting advanced cancer patients is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior research.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bulls, Hailey Waddell — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Bulls, Hailey Waddell
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Cancer Pain Management for Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors with Depressive Symptoms
A technology-based program helps Asian American breast cancer survivors with depressive symptoms manage chronic pain more effectively from home using a web app and mobile tools.
-
Endosomal signaling and cancer pain control in oral cancer
A study to understand how signals inside nerve cells and supportive cells contribute to pain in people with oral cancer.
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Intervention to reduce opioid stigma in cancer pain for advanced cancer patients
A patient-friendly plan to help people with advanced cancer manage pain better by reducing stigma around using opioid pain medicines.
-
Safe, digitally-enabled cancer pain care for patients and survivors
A nationwide Mayo Clinic-led program tests a digitally-supported, team-based approach to managing cancer pain that may help patients and survivors receive better, safer pain care.
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Truncated TrkB and Oral Cancer Pain in Head and Neck Cancer
This project looks at a specific brain receptor told to influence pain in people with oral cancer to find new ways to reduce pain without heavy opioids.
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Understanding how mouth cancer proteases drive pain in patients
This NIH grant looks at how enzymes in oral cancer tumors may cause pain, aiming to connect specific proteases with how patients feel pain.
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.