Multicenter NIH-funded Clinical Trial Finds that Intervention Improved Pain for Adults Receiving Maintenance Hemodialysis
Publication: JAMA Internal Medicine
Published on: 2024 Dec 30
Drs. Michael Fischer and Ardith Doorenbos led the UIC-team in a multicenter randomized clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of pain coping skills training for pain among adults receiving maintenance hemodialysis. The 36-week study was designed to assess whether a cognitive behavioral therapy-based pain coping skills program could help reduce pain and improve quality of life. In a recent publication in JAMA Internal Medicine, Drs. Fischer, Doorenbos, and colleagues from 16 academic centers across the United States reported that the intervention resulted in significant improvements compared to the usual care group. Specifically, the intervention group reported a notable reduction in pain interference with daily activities as well as improvements in several other pain-related outcomes. This intervention holds promise as a low-risk, scalable, and effective treatment for pain among adults with dialysis-dependent kidney failure, a population whose current options for managing pain are limited.