Achieving Safe, Comprehensive, Digitally-Enabled Cancer Pain Management (ASCENT): Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial
Year: 2026
Type: conference-abstract
Study design: Study Protocol
Abstract: Cancer patients and survivors disproportionately experience pain that impacts their quality of life. Evidence-based, multi-modal pain care (MMPC) strategies exist, but care models are needed that also account for the preferences, support, and social needs of patients. The Achieving Safe, Comprehensive, digitally-Enabled cancer pain managemeNT (ASCENT) study is a parallel-group randomized clinical trial testing the effectiveness of a digitally-enabled, collaborative care model (CCM)-based intervention that addresses uncontrolled pain and SDOH-related access barriers to evidence-based management. Eligible participants include rural-dwelling and/or Hispanic cancer patients with moderate to severe pain receiving care at one of the eight participating sites. Those randomized to the intervention receive a series of structured telephone/video calls delivered by a Pain Care Manager (PCM)- Community Health Worker (CHW) dyad for six months. Initial calls characterize patients’ pain and cancer histories, management preferences, and social determinant of health needs. A preference- and evidence-aligned Personalized Pain Management Program is developed for each participant and refined during subsequent calls. Patient-centered outcome measures (pain, functioning, mood, sleep, quality of life, pain catastrophizing) are collected from all participants at baseline, three-, and six- months. Pain, assessed with the Brief Pain Inventory, is our primary outcome. Healthcare utilization outcomes will include hospitalizations and emergency care visits. This ASCENT intervention offers a potentially scalable, remote approach to delivery of equitable, accessible pain management for rural-dwelling and/or Hispanic cancer patients who are susceptible to poor outcomes. This trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06198010: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06198010?term=ASCENT&rank=4 .
Source: BMC Cancer
Authors: Sarah A. Minteer, Jessica D. Austin, Matthew M. Clark, Eleshia J. Morrison, Jeph Herrin, Jon Tilburt, Deirdre R. Pachman, Kathryn J. Ruddy, Amanda Nelson, Jewel Podratz, Marcus Frick, Lina Daus, Kurt Kroenke, Chyke A. Doubeni, Deisy Canon Lovera, ASCENT Team, Donna Dozois, Jane Hein, Josiah Lulf, Mary McGough, Jhenitza P. Raygoza, Blayre Wisneski, Gabbie Schei, Andrea Cheville
Institutions: Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic Hospital, OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, University of Oklahoma, Yale University, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Regenstrief Institute, Indiana University Indianapolis, Indiana University School of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Empowerment Program
Language: English
Subfield: Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,390
OpenAlex ID: W7221628974
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