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01-08-2018 | Original Paper

A Randomized Pilot Trial of a Novel Behavioral Intervention for Chronic Pain Tailored to Individuals with HIV

Authors: Jessica S. Merlin, Andrew O. Westfall, Dustin Long, Susan Davies, Michael Saag, William Demonte, Sarah Young, Robert D. Kerns, Matthew J. Bair, Stefan Kertesz, Janet M. Turan, Meredith Kilgore, Olivio J. Clay, Joanna Starrels, Dorothy Pekmezi, Mallory O. Johnson

Published in: AIDS and Behavior | Issue 8/2018

Abstract

Chronic pain is an important and understudied comorbidity in people living with HIV (PLWH). We conducted a pilot trial of Skills TO Manage Pain (STOMP), an innovative social cognitive theory-based pain self-management intervention tailored to PLWH, to assess feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy. Eligibility criteria included being HIV+, ≥ moderate pain for ≥ 3 months and a score of ≥ 4 on the three-item PEG pain severity and interference scale. Participants were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to STOMP or a usual care comparison. Among 22 participants randomized to STOMP, median session attendance was 9/12 (75%). Of 19 STOMP participants surveyed, 13 reported being “much better” overall since beginning treatment. Brief pain inventory-total scores decreased by 2 points in the intervention group and 0.9 in the control group (p = 0.11). STOMP is feasible, acceptable, and shows preliminary evidence of efficacy and promise for a full-scale trial.

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Title: A Randomized Pilot Trial of a Novel Behavioral Intervention for Chronic Pain Tailored to Individuals with HIV
Authors: Jessica S. Merlin
Andrew O. Westfall
Dustin Long
Susan Davies
Michael Saag
William Demonte
Sarah Young
Robert D. Kerns
Matthew J. Bair
Stefan Kertesz
Janet M. Turan
Meredith Kilgore
Olivio J. Clay
Joanna Starrels
Dorothy Pekmezi
Mallory O. Johnson
Publication date: 01-08-2018
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: AIDS and Behavior / Issue 8/2018
Print ISSN: 1090-7165
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3254
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-018-2028-2

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