What this study is
This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of delivering Empowered Relief (ER), a single-session pain relief skills class, to postpartum women with ongoing pain and/or pain interference following cesarean delivery. Participants will receive ER in addition to standard postpartum care and will be followed through 12 weeks postpartum.
What's being tested
- Empowered Relief
Intervention · BEHAVIORAL
A single 120-minute pain relief skills class delivered by trained, certified instructors via Zoom or in person. The session includes pain education, cognitive behavioral skills including relaxation, deep breathing, and reframing, and completion of a personalized plan. Following the session, participants receive access to the Calm Tool smartphone relaxation app (or a binaural relaxation audio file if the app cannot be downloaded).
Study details
- Official title
- A Pilot Feasibility Study of an Intervention to Reduce Chronic Pain Following Cesarean Delivery
- Sponsor
- Stanford University
- Conditions
- Chronic Pain · Cesarean Section Complications · Postpartum
- Enrolling
- 30 people
- Starts
- 2026-10-26
- Est. completion
- 2027-03-14
- Design
- Open-label, single group
- Record
- View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Who can join
Age 18 Years and overSex FEMALEHealthy volunteers Not acceptedYou may qualify if
- Complete informed consent.
- Age 18 years or above.
- Postpartum woman who delivered by cesarean within the Stanford Healthcare system.
- Viable birth (singleton or multiple gestation).
- All maternal demographics and complications are eligible: parity, medical conditions (e.g., pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes), and post-surgical complications (e.g., hysterectomy, ICU admission, extended hospital stay).
- All neonatal complications are eligible (e.g., NICU admission, extended hospital stay)
- Attend the 6-week postpartum clinic visit.
- Any pain intensity (numeric rating scale [NRS] >0/10) and/or pain interference (PROMIS pain interference 8a score >8) at 6 weeks postpartum.
- English fluency, with ability to read and write.
- Ability to adhere to and complete study procedures.
- Access to a smart device if attending ER session via Zoom.
You can't join if
- Age under 18 years.
- Cognitive impairment or psychological factors that would preclude comprehension of study material or full participation.
- Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent.
- Chronic pain prior to pregnancy.
Sign in and we'll check these against your records.Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Study locations (1)
1 openStanford Medicine Children's Health - Specialty Services, Welch Road
Palo Alto, California, United States
- Pervez Sultan, MD · Contact(669) 800 9929psultan@stanford.edu
- Pervez Sultan, MD · Principal investigator
Recruiting
Study team
Sponsor
Stanford University
Study ID 84718
Frequently asked questions
The sponsor hasn't published answers to common questions for this trial.