Peer Mentorship: An Intervention To Promote Effective Pain Self-Management In Adolescents
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Functional Abdominal Pain, Fibromyalgia
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) focused on measuring Peer Support, Social Support, Chronic Pain, Behavioral Interventions for Pain, Adolescents, Children, Pediatric, Mentorship, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, CAM, Pain, Pain Management, Behavioral
Eligibility Criteria
Mentors
Inclusion criteria:
- between the ages of 14 and 18
- any patient who has been successfully treated in the UCLA Pediatric Pain Program
- access to telephone
- access to internet enabled computer
Exclusion criteria
- younger than 14
- older than 18
- new patient
- no access to telephone
- no access to internet enabled computer
Mentees and controls:
Inclusion Criteria:
- chronic pain diagnosis
- between the ages of 12 and 17
- access to telephone
- access to internet enabled computer
- new to UCLA Pediatric Pain Clinic
- plans to utilize program CAM therapies
Exclusion Criteria:
- already utilizing UCLA Pediatric Pain Program CAM therapies
- unable to read, speak, or understand english
- younger than 12 or older than 17
- no access to telephone
- no access to internet enabled computer
- not new patient to UCLA Pediatric Pain Clinic
- does not plan to utilize program CAM therapies
Sites / Locations
- UCLA Pediatric Pain Management Clinic
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Experimental
No Intervention
No Intervention
Mentorship
Control
Mentors
Subjects randomly assigned to this arm received the specified "Mentorship Intervention"
Subjects randomly assigned to this control group receive treatment as usual (TAU).
Subjects recruited to the "Mentor" arm of the study are UCLA Pediatric Pain Program patients between the ages of 14 and 18. These mentors are identified by the Principal Investigator as children who have not necessarily eliminated pain, but have learned how to cope with pain and maintain appropriate functioning in daily life. Mentors undergo an in depth training from doctoral level psychologists who are members of the research team. Mentors present pain coping information developed by the research team, provide support, and encourage mentees to attend pain management therapies. They are also monitored by doctoral level psychologists throughout the duration of the study to ensure safety and appropriate contact with mentees via telephone.