Empowered Relief pain-management class for cancer survivors
Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of Empowered Relief® for Cancer Survivors With Chronic Pain
This project will test whether a single 2-hour Zoom Empowered Relief class helps cancer survivors with chronic pain reduce pain and pain-related distress.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 215 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 120 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Oklahoma Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Tulsa, Oklahoma) |
| Trial ID | NCT07578376 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized, controlled study will assign eligible cancer survivors with chronic pain to either a single-session, 2-hour Zoom Empowered Relief (ER) class or a waitlist control, with the waitlist offered the class after a 3-month observation period. The ER class is a skills-based session led by certified instructors that teaches three core pain-relief techniques, creates a personalized plan, and provides access to a binaural audio app plus daily supportive text messages. Participants will complete online surveys at 1, 2, and 3 months after the class and outcomes from class participants will be compared with those who remain on the waitlist. The trial aims to enroll 250 participants to achieve about 200 completers and is conducted from the University of Oklahoma with class delivery via Zoom.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-speaking cancer survivors who have completed active treatment, are currently cancer-free, experience body pain most or every day for at least three months, and have access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet.
Not a fit: Patients with significant cognitive or psychiatric impairment that limits participation, those with life‑threatening acute illness, or those without internet-capable devices are unlikely to benefit or be eligible for the trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this brief, Zoom-delivered class could offer an accessible self-management option that reduces pain intensity, pain-related distress, and related symptoms for cancer survivors.
How similar studies have performed: Empowered Relief has shown moderate efficacy in chronic non-cancer pain populations and been adopted in several major centers, but it has not previously been tested specifically in cancer survivors.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: History of cancer diagnosis, completion of active cancer treatment, cancer free at the time of enrollment, experience of body pain most or every day, pain duration at least 3 months, and English fluency. Exclusion Criteria: Significant psychological and cognitive impairment that limits one's ability to complete study tasks (completion of online survey, attending the zoom-based ER class). Life-threatening acute illness (e.g., infection, heart attack, injury), and no access to a computer, a smartphone or a tablet.
Where this trial is running
Tulsa, Oklahoma
- University of Oklahoma Schusterman Center - Tulsa — Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Sophia You, PhD, ABPP — University of Oklahoma
- Study coordinator: Sophia You, PhD, ABPP
- Email: Dokyoung-You@ou.edu
- Phone: 918-660-3923
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.