# A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Resilience Coaching for Adolescents with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

> **NIH NIH K23** · CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA · 2022 · $160,812

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) affects as many as 4 in 10 children, mostly adolescents, and accounts for
the majority of new referrals to pediatric rheumatology. Long-term physical and psychosocial outcomes for
adolescents with CMP are poor with increased healthcare utilization and psychological co-morbidities.
Additionally, current treatment regimens for CMP have limited accessibility. Resilience is a dynamic process of
positive adaptation or development in the context of significant adversity, such as living with excessive chronic
pain. Promoting Resilience in Stress Management (PRISM) is a successful resilience-training intervention for
adolescents and young adults with serious illness. Preliminary data for this proposal demonstrate a moderate
correlation between self-perceived resilience and symptom severity among adolescents as well as high feasibility
and acceptability of PRISM delivery among youth with CMP. Qualitative feedback was universally positive with
the consistent recommendation to add a patient group session to the intervention. With an added patient group
session to the intervention, we now aim to ascertain the impact of the adapted intervention (Promoting Resilience
in Stress Management (PRISM) for adolescent Chronic musculoskeletal pain [PRISM-C]) on pain-related clinical
outcomes in a randomized controlled trial. The overall objectives of the proposed project are to (1) determine
the efficacy of PRISM-C in a population of youth with CMP, (2) explore moderators of the intervention to identify
youth most likely to benefit from resilience coaching, and (3) assess implementation outcomes and identify
barriers and facilitators to engagement in PRISM-C. Findings from this work will further our understanding of
psychosocial factors important in adolescent CMP in order to reduce disease burden and improve long-term
outcomes. Study results will serve as preliminary data for an R01 application to perform a multicenter randomized
controlled trial of PRISM-C for adolescents with CMP. The proposed Career Development Award addresses how
to improve access to and efficacy of interdisciplinary treatments for CMP. The exceptional resources and
institutional support at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania, outstanding
multidisciplinary mentorship team, and proposed career development activities will allow the candidate to
achieve her long-term goal of becoming an independent investigator and nationally recognized pediatric
rheumatologist with expertise in pediatric chronic pain, resilience, and behavioral health interventions with the
goal of improving the long-term physical and psychosocial outcomes for adolescents with CMP.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10506708
- **Project number:** 1K23AR081409-01
- **Recipient organization:** CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA
- **Principal Investigator:** SABRINA ANDREA GMUCA
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $160,812
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10506708

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10506708, A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Resilience Coaching for Adolescents with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain (1K23AR081409-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10506708. Licensed CC0.

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