• Katherine Hadlandsmyth, Mandy Conrad, Kenda Stewart Steffensmeier, Jennifer Van Tiem, Ashlie Obrecht, Joseph J Cullen, and Mark W Vander Weg.
• Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa.
• Ann. Surg. 2022 Jan 1; 275 (1): e8e14e8-e14.

ObjectiveThe current study aimed to pilot the PePS intervention, based on principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), to determine feasibility and preliminary efficacy for preventing chronic pain and long-term opioid use.Summary Background DataSurgery can precipitate the development of both chronic pain and long-term opioid use. CBT can reduce distress and improve functioning among patients with chronic pain. Adapting CBT to target acute pain management in the postoperative period may impact longer-term postoperative outcomes.MethodsThis was a mixed-methods randomized controlled trial in a mixed surgical sample with assignment to standard care or PePS, with primary outcomes at 3-months postsurgery. The sample consisted of rural-dwelling United States Military Veterans.ResultsLogistic regression analyses found a significant effect of PePS on odds of moderate-severe pain (on average over the last week) at 3-months postsurgery, controlling for preoperative moderate-severe pain: Adjusted odds ratio = 0.25 (95% CI: 0.07-0.95, P < 0.05). At 3-months postsurgery, 15% (6/39) of standard care participants and 2% (1/45) of PePS participants used opioids in the prior seven days: Adjusted Odds ratio = 0.10 (95% CI: 0.01-1.29, P = .08). Changes in depression, anxiety, and pain catastrophizing were not significantly different between arms.ConclusionsThe findings from this study support the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the PePS intervention.Copyright © 2020 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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