ADAPTING A PAIN COPING SKILLS TRAINING INTERVENTION FOR PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR CAREGIVERS

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Finn

Community-dwelling people with dementia and their family caregivers face significant unmet needs, including pain management. Pain in dementia is common and contributes to distress and disability for patients while increasing caregiver stress. Pain Coping Skills Training (PCST), a non-pharmacologic cognitive-behavioral approach effective in older adults, requires adaptation for dementia-specific needs. A Community Advisory Board shaped intervention length, delivery, videoconference participation, and content for varying cognitive impairment, informing refinements before a pilot trial.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Study objective and rationale

Community Advisory Board process

Adaptation preferences and skill content

Feedback use for pilot trial

756 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 SESSION 7205 (POSTER) DEMENTIA I Abstract citation ID: igaf122.2571 ADAPTING A PAIN COPING SKILLS TRAINING INTERVENTION FOR PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR CAREGIVERS Laura Porter1, Katherine Ramos2, Francis Keefe3, Deborah Weiner4, Heather Whitson5, Courtney Van Houtven5, and Natalie Leary3, 1. Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States, 2. Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States, 3. Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States, 4. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 5. Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States Community dwelling persons with dementia (PWD) and their family caregivers represent a burgeoning and vulnerable population with significant unmet needs, one of which is pain management. Pain in PWD is common, causes increased distress and disability for patients, and increased stress for caregivers. Pain coping skills training (PCST) is a non-pharmacological pain management approach based on cognitive-behavioral principles that is efficacious among older adults without dementia. However, little is known about how to adapt PCST to meet the unique needs of PWD and their caregivers. In this study, we recruited six PWD (50% female, 33% Black, 77% White) and their caregivers (83% female, 67% spouses, 33% Black, 77% White) to form a Community Advisory Board (CAB) . We met with them three times to obtain their input on intervention delivery and content. CAB members responded favorably to the proposed intervention length (five 45-minute sessions) and delivery to patient-caregiver dyads. They primarily preferred participation via videoconference. We presented four pain coping skills (PAINAD tool for pain assessment, relaxation, coping thoughts, and pleasant activity scheduling) . Most CAB members reported perceiving the skills as highly useful, although there was variation based on thePWD’s level of cognitive impairment (mild-moderate). They provided valuable input on (a) ways to tailor content and delivery for varying levels of cognitive impairment, and (b) materials (e.g., audio recordings, handouts) to promote learning and Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 757 practice of skills. This feedback will be used to refine the intervention before implementing a single-arm pilot trial with 30 dyads.

FAQs

Why is adapting pain management important for people with dementia and their caregivers?

Pain is common in dementia and increases distress and disability for patients while also raising stress for caregivers. Addressing these needs requires approaches tailored to dementia-specific realities.

What is Pain Coping Skills Training (PCST) and what gap does the study address?

PCST is a non-pharmacological pain management approach grounded in cognitive-behavioral principles. The study addresses the limited knowledge about how to adapt PCST for people with dementia and their caregivers.

How was the intervention adaptation informed?

Six people with dementia and their caregivers formed a Community Advisory Board that met three times to provide input on delivery and content, including preferred participation via videoconference.

What changes are planned before the pilot trial?

CAB feedback will be used to refine tailoring and materials (such as audio recordings and handouts) across cognitive impairment levels before implementing a single-arm pilot trial with 30 dyads.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Finn