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CompletedNCT03076190Updated Apr 22, 2024Results posted

My Surgical Success: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study of a Pre-surgical Psychological Intervention

An interventional study of Psychoeducational My Surgical Success Video in Breast Cancer, sponsored by Stanford University. Completed. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-04-22.

Sponsored by Stanford University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
131
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The primary purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a remote, Internet-based, pre-surgical psychoeducational intervention delivered to patients scheduled for breast cancer surgery (compared to an active control group that receives health education).

Aim 1: Determine feasibility, satisfaction, and perceived utility of My Surgical Success.

Hypothesis 1: For My Surgical Success, the investigators anticipate 50% engagement in the study (feasibility). Of those who complete My Surgical Success we expect 80% satisfaction ratings, and 80% perceived utility of the information learned.

Aim 2: Determine group differences in within-subject pain catastrophizing scores (baseline - 0 to 48 hours before surgery).

Hypothesis 2: My Surgical Success participants evidence greater reduction in pain catastrophizing (measured with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale; PCS) compared to the HE Control group.

Aim 3: Determine group differences in time to post-surgical pain and opioid cessation.

Hypothesis 3: My Surgical Success participants will evidence quicker time to post-surgical pain and opioid cessation compared to the HE Control Group.

Aim 4: Determine group differences in post-surgical psychological correlates (PROMIS Depression, Anxiety, Function, Pain Interference, Sleep Disturbance, Sleep Related Impairment, Anger, Fatigue, Global, Distress, and Pain Intensity).

Hypothesis 4: My Surgical Success participants will evidence greater post-surgical function and lower pain related interference compared to the HE Control Group.

The goal of this research is to advance our understanding regarding the feasibility and effectiveness of remote psychoeducation interventions and impact on post-surgical outcomes.

Read the detailed description

Pre-surgical patients are identified by their breast surgeon. The entire study is conducted remotely with no in-person contact with study staff. Study staff call patients and invite them to enroll in the study; informed consent is obtained online.

All participants are asked to provide baseline demographic information, as well as self-reported measures assessing mood, pain, cognitive and emotional responses to pain, catastrophizing, self-efficacy, and medications. All measures are administered via a secure, HIPAA compliant, online system (REDCap).

Participants are then randomized to either the Internet-based pain psychology intervention (My Surgical Success) or to brief online health education (HE Control). Prior to surgery, participants who have been randomized to the HE control group will receive patient handouts online about health and nutrition and are oriented that the information is relevant for improving recovery from surgery. The Internet-based pain psychology intervention emphasizes treatment content that targets pain catastrophizing. My Surgical Success includes a psychoeducational video, a downloadable audio file, and a downloadable PDF Personalized Plan for Success. After viewing the online treatment video, participants randomized to My Surgical Success complete questions regarding participant satisfaction with the video, perceived usefulness of information, and likelihood to use the skills learned. Pain catastrophizing scores are collected from all study participants prior to surgery. All participants are tracked daily post-surgically to assess pain, opioid use, distress, and use of skills learned from treatment; data are captured daily for 30 days, then weekly for 2 weeks, then every 2 weeks for 4 weeks to pain and opioid cessation (or the end of 12 weeks). Psychosocial data are collected post-surgically at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12.

Post-treatment questions:

Participants in the My Surgical Success group complete the following questions at the end of the video: how understandable the video was, its relevance, usefulness, their satisfaction, how likely they are to use the information, and what they learned from the video.

Participants in HE Control are asked how understandable the health information packet was, its relevance, usefulness, their satisfaction, how likely they are to use the information, and what they learned from the packet.

The pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) is administered following treatment and before surgery to all participants.

Following surgery, all participants fill out online daily measures to assess pain and medication use. Daily measures continue until the participant reports 3 consecutive reports of zero average pain and zero opiate use and has indicated they have recovered from surgery. Until reaching this endpoint, daily measures are collected for 30 days, then bi-weekly for an additional 2 weeks, and then weekly for a period of between 2-6 additional weeks.

02

Conditions studied

  • Breast Cancer

Keywords

  • psychology
  • pain
  • surgery
  • treatment
  • catastrophizing
  • cancer
03

In context

Lead sponsor

Stanford University is the lead sponsor of 2,117 studies on the registry; 425 are open to participants now.

Of its 259 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 197 (76%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18+
  • Scheduled for breast cancer surgery
  • English speaking
  • Ability and willingness to complete study procedures including online questionnaires, assessments, and the psychoeducational video

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any conditions causing inability to complete study procedures (e.g. education, cognitive ability, mental status, medical status) or lack of access to internet and phone that would prevent participation in study procedures - at the discretion of the investigator.
  • Known pregnancy
  • Ongoing legal action related to pain or disability claim
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
131 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • No intervention
    Active Control Group (Health Education)

    Prior to surgery: * Demographics survey * Baseline surveys * Participants receive online information regarding nutrition and exercise that are relevant for people recovering from surgery. Participants are encouraged to incorporate healthy lifestyle choices into their daily routines as they recover from surgery. * Follow-up questions about the handouts (detailed above) Post-surgery: * Daily surveys (detailed above) * Follow-up surveys (2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery)

  • Experimental
    My Surgical Success Treatment Group

    Prior to surgery: * Demographics survey * Baseline surveys * Intervention: * 90-minute psychoeducational My Surgical Success video that emphasizes catastrophizing treatment. * audio file * personalized plan that incorporates the information learned in the video. * Follow-up questions about the video (detailed above) Post-surgery: * Daily surveys (detailed above) * Follow-up surveys (2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery)

    Behavioral: Psychoeducational My Surgical Success Video

Interventions

  • BehavioralPsychoeducational My Surgical Success Video

    The 90-minute video includes instruction by Dr. Beth Darnall, PhD, a pain psychologist at the Stanford Pain Management Center. She teaches the viewer about the relationship between stress, pain, and catastrophizing and provides instruction and skills to reduce catastrophizing, decrease stress, and increase relaxation.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Participant Ratings (0-6) for Satisfaction, Usefulness of the Information Presented, Relevance, Ease of Understanding, and Likelihood to Use Skills Learning

    Participants complete a single time point rating for 5 items listed above. Ratings occur on a 0-6 point scale (e.g., 0=completely useless and 6=Very useful). Means and Standard Deviations are reported per the table below.

    Time frame: Immediately post-treatment

Secondary outcomes

  1. Group Difference in Within-subject Pain Catastrophizing

    Pain Catastrophizing Scale is a validated 13-item measure assessing levels of pain catastrophizing. Scores range from 0-52, with a higher score indicating higher levels of pain catastrophizing. Data below presents total scores on the scale.

    Time frame: Before surgery to post-surgically

Other outcomes

  1. Group Difference in Time to Opioid Cessation

    Postsurgical opioid stop date was self-reported by patients. The opioid stop date was collected through the two-, four-, eight-, and 12-week follow-up surveys with the question "On what date did you stop taking your opioid medication?" The number of postsurgical days using opioids was calculated by subtracting the opioid stop date from the surgery date obtained in the medical chart. Statistical analyses present the data in mean number of days to opioid cessation in each group.

    Time frame: Data on opioid use was collected for the 4 month duration of the study

  2. Group Difference in Post-surgical PROMIS Physical Function and PROMIS Pain Interference

    PROMIS scores for physical function and pain interference will be reported post-surgically. All PROMIS assessments were converted from raw scores to t-scores (Mean= 50, SD=10). Higher scores on PROMIS pain interference signify greater severity of pain interfering with patient's functioning. However, higher scores on Physical function reflects a greater level of physical functioning. The investigators will conduct within subject analyses and will report pre-post treatment changes.

    Time frame: From baseline to post-surgery (up to 4 months duration of the study)

  3. Characterize Responders to My Surgical Success (Demographics and Psychological Correlates)

    The investigators will report the baseline psychosocial scores (PROMIS measures) for patients who report high satisfaction with the My Surgical Success treatment. Pain Intensity Scale ranges from 0 (no Pain) to 10 (the worst pain imaginable), with higher scores indicating worse pain. Total scores range from 0-10. Pain Catastrophizing Scale is a 13-item measure assessing levels of pain catastrophizing. Scores range from 0-52, with a higher score indicating higher levels of pain catastrophizing. All PROMIS assessments were converted from raw scores to t-scores (M= 50, SD=10). There are no minimum and maximum values as these are standardized scores. PROMIS Pain Intensity, Pain Interference, Physical Function, Depression, Anxiety, were administered at baseline. Higher scores on PROMIS depression, anxiety, pain interference, and pain intensity signify greater severity of these symptoms. However, higher scores on Physical Function reflects a greater level of physical functioning.

    Time frame: Baseline

07

Results

Posted Apr 1, 2020
Limitations and caveats
The sample was underpowered to detect medium effects; Populations with pre-existing pain may better engage in a treatment to address a relevant problem; The study sample was women undergoing surgery for breast cancer, which limits generalizability.

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneActive Control Group (Health Education)My Surgical Success Treatment Group
Started5077
Completed3236
Not completed1841
Withdrew: Lost to follow-up934
Withdrew: Excluded from analysis (zero duration ev97

Outcome measures

PrimaryParticipant Ratings (0-6) for Satisfaction, Usefulness of the Information Presented, Relevance, Ease of Understanding, and Likelihood to Use Skills Learning

Participants complete a single time point rating for 5 items listed above. Ratings occur on a 0-6 point scale (e.g., 0=completely useless and 6=Very useful). Means and Standard Deviations are reported per the table below.

Time frame:
Immediately post-treatment
Reported as:
Mean · units on a scale
Participant Ratings (0-6) for Satisfaction, Usefulness of the Information Presented, Relevance, Ease of Understanding, and Likelihood to Use Skills Learning
units on a scaleActive Control GroupMy Surgical Success Treatment Group
Easy to Understand5.9 ± .35.9 ± .2
Relevant4.7 ± 1.515.0 ± 1.6
Useful4.67 ± 1.525.1 ± 1.3
Satisfaction4.67 ± 1.565.2 ± 1.2
Likely to Use5.03 ± 1.35.3 ± 1.2
SecondaryGroup Difference in Within-subject Pain Catastrophizing

Pain Catastrophizing Scale is a validated 13-item measure assessing levels of pain catastrophizing. Scores range from 0-52, with a higher score indicating higher levels of pain catastrophizing. Data below presents total scores on the scale.

Time frame:
Before surgery to post-surgically
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Group Difference in Within-subject Pain Catastrophizing
score on a scaleActive Control GroupMy Surgical Success Treatment Group
Group Difference in Within-subject Pain Catastrophizing8.24 ± 1.196.62 ± 1.12
Other pre-specifiedGroup Difference in Time to Opioid Cessation

Postsurgical opioid stop date was self-reported by patients. The opioid stop date was collected through the two-, four-, eight-, and 12-week follow-up surveys with the question "On what date did you stop taking your opioid medication?" The number of postsurgical days using opioids was calculated by subtracting the opioid stop date from the surgery date obtained in the medical chart. Statistical analyses present the data in mean number of days to opioid cessation in each group.

Time frame:
Data on opioid use was collected for the 4 month duration of the study
Reported as:
Mean · Days to opioid cessation
Group Difference in Time to Opioid Cessation
Days to opioid cessationActive Control GroupMy Surgical Success Treatment Group
Group Difference in Time to Opioid Cessation21.83 ± 4.1111.19 ± 2.21
Other pre-specifiedGroup Difference in Post-surgical PROMIS Physical Function and PROMIS Pain Interference

PROMIS scores for physical function and pain interference will be reported post-surgically. All PROMIS assessments were converted from raw scores to t-scores (Mean= 50, SD=10). Higher scores on PROMIS pain interference signify greater severity of pain interfering with patient's functioning. However, higher scores on Physical function reflects a greater level of physical functioning. The investigators will conduct within subject analyses and will report pre-post treatment changes.

Time frame:
From baseline to post-surgery (up to 4 months duration of the study)
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Group Difference in Post-surgical PROMIS Physical Function and PROMIS Pain Interference
score on a scaleHealth Education ControlMy Surgical Success
Pain Interference4.31 ± 9.656.77 ± 9.31
Physical Health2.56 ± 6.410.72 ± 6.15
Other pre-specifiedCharacterize Responders to My Surgical Success (Demographics and Psychological Correlates)

The investigators will report the baseline psychosocial scores (PROMIS measures) for patients who report high satisfaction with the My Surgical Success treatment. Pain Intensity Scale ranges from 0 (no Pain) to 10 (the worst pain imaginable), with higher scores indicating worse pain. Total scores range from 0-10. Pain Catastrophizing Scale is a 13-item measure assessing levels of pain catastrophizing. Scores range from 0-52, with a higher score indicating higher levels of pain catastrophizing. All PROMIS assessments were converted from raw scores to t-scores (M= 50, SD=10). There are no minimum and maximum values as these are standardized scores. PROMIS Pain Intensity, Pain Interference, Physical Function, Depression, Anxiety, were administered at baseline. Higher scores on PROMIS depression, anxiety, pain interference, and pain intensity signify greater severity of these symptoms. However, higher scores on Physical Function reflects a greater level of physical functioning.

Time frame:
Baseline
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Characterize Responders to My Surgical Success (Demographics and Psychological Correlates)
score on a scaleResponders to Treatment
Pain Intensity1.47 ± 1.12
Pain Catastrophizing7.33 ± 1.3
PROMIS physical functioning37.52 ± 5.42
PROMIS Pain Interference47.49 ± 1.59
PROMIS Anxiety54.49 ± 1.48
PROMIS Depression47.15 ± 1.29

Adverse events

Collected over For the full duration of the study (4 months). Non-serious events are listed at a 5% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Active Control Group (Health Education)0/32 (0%)——
My Surgical Success Treatment Group0/36 (0%)——

Baseline characteristics

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)Active Control Group (Health Education)My Surgical Success Treatment GroupTotal
<=18 years000
Between 18 and 65 years272754
>=65 years437
Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Active Control Group (Health Education)My Surgical Success Treatment GroupTotal
Mean51.16 ± 11.4551.27 ± 11.1451.21 ± 11.20
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Active Control Group (Health Education)My Surgical Success Treatment GroupTotal
Female323668
Male000
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Active Control Group (Health Education)My Surgical Success Treatment GroupTotal
American Indian or Alaska Native101
Asian31013
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander101
Black or African American101
White232043
More than one race000
Unknown or Not Reported369
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Active Control Group (Health Education)My Surgical Success Treatment GroupTotal
United States323668
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Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

09

References and documents

Publications

  • Darnall BD, Ziadni MS, Krishnamurthy P, Flood P, Heathcote LC, Mackey IG, Taub CJ, Wheeler A. "My Surgical Success": Effect of a Digital Behavioral Pain Medicine Intervention on Time to Opioid Cessation After Breast Cancer Surgery-A Pilot Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Pain Med. 2019 Nov 1;20(11):2228-2237. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnz094. Erratum In: Pain Med. 2020 Jan 1;21(1):217. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnz162. PubMed 31087093 ↗

Study documents

  • Study protocol · Jul 15, 2014
  • Statistical analysis plan · Jun 15, 2018

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 22, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03076190
Lead sponsor
Stanford University
Responsible party
Beth Darnall (Associate Professor, Stanford University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Mar 10, 2017
Start date
Aug 2015
Primary completion
Jun 2017
Completion
Jun 2017
Results posted
Apr 1, 2020
Last update
Apr 22, 2024

Study contacts

Beth D Darnall, PhD
principal investigator · Stanford University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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