Pain coping skills training for older women with breast cancer
Official title: Brief Pain Coping Skills Training for Older Women With Breast Cancer and Pain: An Efficacy-Effectiveness Randomized Controlled Trial
Run by Weill Medical College of Cornell University · NCT07300995 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A telehealth program tests a one-session pain coping skills training plus five short follow-ups to see if it helps older women with breast cancer manage pain.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 55 Years and up |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 168 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Weill Medical College of Cornell University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Durham, North Carolina) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 17, 2026 |
| Main results expected | April 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | June 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | August 12, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07300995 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Bi biologically female adults aged 55+, with stage I–IV breast cancer, experiencing meaningful pain, receiving care at a Duke Cancer Network clinic, and able to participate in English-language telehealth or phone sessions.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with pain not responsive to coping strategies or with barriers to telehealth participation may see little to no benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized trial evaluates a 1-session telehealth pain coping skills training (PCST) protocol, with five 15-minute maintenance calls, adapted for women with breast cancer in medically underserved areas. The study measures pain, health-related quality of life, and self-efficacy for pain management at baseline, 10 weeks, and 15 weeks. Participants are community-dwelling, English-speaking women aged 55 or older with stage I–IV breast cancer experiencing recurring or persistent pain. Recruitment occurs through the Duke Cancer Network in Durham, NC, with the intervention delivered remotely to improve access. The trial aims to determine whether Brief PCST-Community can reduce pain and improve coping in a population historically underserved by oncology services.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience reduced pain and better ability to manage symptoms, improving quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Past behavioral pain interventions show promise, but this specific Brief PCST-Community approach in medically underserved older breast cancer patients is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Receiving cancer care at a Duke Cancer Network (DCN) clinic * Stage I-IV breast cancer * Self-reported pain on at least 10 days in the last month and pain rating of worst pain of 4 or greater on a 0-10 scale in the last week * Biologically female * Greater than or equal to 55 years old * Ability to speak and read English * Hearing and vision that allows for successful completion of videoconferencing and phone session Exclusion Criteria: * Participation in the last 6 months in a pain coping skills training program
Where it's running
-
Duke Cancer Network
Durham, North Carolina, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Cary Reid, MD, PhD — Weill Medical College of Cornell University
- Study coordinator: Tamara Somers, PhD
- Email: tamara.somers@duke.edu
- Phone: 919-416-3408
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.