# Home-Based Self-Management of Chronic Pain in Adults with Sickle Cell Disease: Applying a Biopsychosocial and Technological Approach

> **NIH NIH R21** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $195,625

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT. In adults with sickle cell disease (SCD), chronic pain is associated with
substantial morbidity, mortality, and healthcare utilization. The incidence of chronic pain in SCD is high and is
likely to increase as affected individuals transition through young adulthood. However, Black adults with SCD
often encounter challenges in obtaining comprehensive care for chronic pain that includes behavioral pain
management strategies. As a result, chronic pain is typically managed with opioids but opioids alone are often
suboptimal, are associated with poor health outcomes, and their use is limited by access restrictions due to the
current opioid epidemic in the United States. Therefore, alternative, evidence-based, non-pharmacological
options are needed to address the psychosocial aspects of chronic pain and support pain self-management in
the home setting in order to decrease the burden of SCD and improve the quality of life of affected individuals.
Virtual reality (VR) is a timely and innovative tool that has resulted in pain reduction for individuals who
experience chronic pain conditions, such as complex regional pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, and chronic
migraines. While VR applications have typically been used in a clinic or hospital setting primarily for acute pain,
cost reductions and advances in the technology have created the potential for its long-term use at home. In
addition, the popularity of mobile and gaming technology among young adults suggests that VR is a promising
delivery platform. Therefore, VR may be utilized to implement home-based chronic pain self-management for
adults with SCD. To date, there have been no published studies of VR interventions for chronic pain
management in the home setting for adults with SCD. This project will evaluate AppliedVR's EaseVRx – a
multi-modal, skills-based, 8-week, VR, home intervention – in an exploratory trial for self-management of
chronic pain among 60 Black, young adults (ages 18–40) with SCD. EaseVRx experiences are based on
evidence-based pain management approaches related to pain education, pain psychology, biofeedback
training, relaxation, and distraction. Similar to in-person integrative pain management programs, EaseVRx
provides therapeutic information to support participants in learning cognitive and behavior self-management
skills, and retraining the pain pathways. A single-site, mixed-methods, exploratory, parallel-group randomized
controlled trial (RCT), of EaseVRx versus active control, among adults with SCD will be conducted to: 1)
determine the feasibility of using EaseVRx for self-management of chronic pain; 2) assess the preliminary
efficacy of EaseVRx on pain and pain-related outcomes; and 3) assess how EaseVRx can be tailored for a
target audience that mostly consists of Black individuals. Data will be obtained from electronic medical records,
validated surveys, a pain dairy, device usage statistics, and qualitative individual interviews or focus group
se...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10375569
- **Project number:** 5R21NR019872-02
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Nadine Matthie
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $195,625
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-03-19 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10375569

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10375569, Home-Based Self-Management of Chronic Pain in Adults with Sickle Cell Disease: Applying a Biopsychosocial and Technological Approach (5R21NR019872-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10375569. Licensed CC0.

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