Pain and smoking study (PASS): A comparative effectiveness trial of smoking cessation counseling for veterans with chronic pain.

Bastian LA, Driscoll M, DeRycke E, Edmond S, Mattocks K, Goulet J, Kerns RD, Lawless M, Quon C, Selander K, Snow J, Casares J, Lee M, Brandt C, Ditre J, Becker W. Pain and smoking study (PASS): A comparative effectiveness trial of smoking cessation counseling for veterans with chronic pain. Contemporary clinical trials communications. 2021 Sep 1; 23:100839.

Related HSR&D Project(s)

• IIR 15-092 – Pain-related Anxiety Intervention for Smokers with Chronic Pain: A Comparative Effectiveness Trial of Smoking Cessation Counseling for Veterans

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Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: Smoking is associated with greater pain intensity and pain-related functional interference in people with chronic pain. Interventions that teach smokers with chronic pain how to apply adaptive coping strategies to promote both smoking cessation and pain self-management may be effective. METHODS: The Pain and Smoking Study (PASS) is a randomized clinical trial of a telephone-delivered, cognitive behavioral intervention among Veterans with chronic pain who smoke cigarettes. PASS participants are randomized to a standard telephone counseling intervention that includes five sessions focusing on motivational interviewing, craving and relapse management, rewards, and nicotine replacement therapy versus the same components with the addition of a cognitive behavioral intervention for pain management. Participants are assessed at baseline, 6, and 12 months. The primary outcome is smoking cessation. RESULTS: The 371 participants are 88% male, a median age of 60 years old (range 24-82), and smoke a median of 15 cigarettes per day. Participants are mainly white (61%), unemployed (70%), 33% had a high school degree or less, and report their overall health as "Fair" (40%) to "Poor" (11%). Overall, pain was moderately high (mean pain intensity in past week  =  5.2 (Standard Deviation (SD)  =  1.6) and mean pain interference  =  5.5 (SD  =  2.2)). Pain-related anxiety was high (mean  =  47.0 (SD  =  22.2)) and self-efficacy was low (mean  =  3.8 (SD  =  1.6)). CONCLUSIONS: PASS utilizes an innovative smoking and pain intervention to promote smoking cessation among Veterans with chronic pain. Baseline characteristics reflect a socioeconomically vulnerable population with a high burden of mental health comorbidities.