Meaning-Centered Pain Coping Skills Training for Cancer Pain

Many patients with advanced cancer describe pain as a debilitating symptom that greatly interferes with activities they care about. Psychosocial interventions show promise for improving cancer-related pain; however, there is a lack of interventions that address existential and spiritual concerns (e.g., a loss of meaning, purpose, and peace) that are common among those facing high levels of pain interference from advanced cancer.

To address this need, an intervention called Meaning-Centered Pain Coping Skills Training (MCPC) was developed. In this trial, the investigators will randomize patients to MCPC or enhanced usual care control (target N = 210). Patient-reported outcomes will be assessed at baseline and 8- and 12-weeks after baseline. As in the investigators' extensive pilot work, MCPC's four 45-to-60 minute individual weekly sessions will be delivered by trained study therapists via an accessible videoconference format. Intervention sessions focus on training participants in evidence-based cognitive-behavioral skills, such as guided imagery and activity pacing. Emphasis is placed on using skills to reduce the degree to which pain interferes with participants' sense of meaning, purpose, and peace.

The first aim of this trial is to determine the efficacy of MCPC for reducing the primary outcome of pain interference at 8-weeks. The second aim is to determine the efficacy of MCPC for improving secondary outcomes at 8-weeks. The third aim is to test the maintenance of MCPC's effects on primary and secondary outcomes at 12-weeks. The fourth aim is to estimate the cost-effectiveness of implementing MCPC.