A Collaborative Intervention for Improving Cancer Pain Management in Rural and Hispanic Cancer Survivors (ASCENT)

This clinical trial tests a collaborative pain management intervention (ASCENT) for improving cancer pain in rural and Hispanic cancer survivors. Cancer pain is prevalent, under-treated, and remains a major cause of suffering, impairment, and disability for millions of Americans. Individual pain interventions and care models show promise for cancer pain in controlled settings. Hispanic and rural-dwelling cancer survivors stand to benefit the most from electronic health record innovations, as each of these health disparities populations experience profound disparities in pain outcomes, including marked under- and over-prescribing of opioids. Digitally facilitated solutions are especially well matched for these patients, and can be customized to address their needs. The ASCENT intervention provides patients with an educational guide that describes techniques for addressing cancer pain, and uses community health workers and pain care managers to coach patients through a personalized pain management plan. This study may help researchers learn how pain management strategies can improve cancer pain and lower risk of opioid exposure and dependency in rural and Hispanic cancer survivors.