The Feasibility of the Pray Until Something Happens (PUSH) Intervention-OUTPATIENT

Last updated: January 5, 2026
Sponsor: University of Florida
Overall Status: Active - Not Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Sickle Cell Disease

Pain

Stress

Treatment

Self-monitoring

Pray Until Something Happens (PUSH)

Clinical Study ID

NCT06580067
IRB202401269
  • Ages 18-99
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The goal of this research study is to reduce stress and improve sickle cell disease (SCD) pain control and sleep quality with less opioid use by determining the feasibility of an intervention with self-management combined intercessory and petitionary prayer, named Pray Until Something Happens (PUSH) stress reduction intervention using a mobile smart device. Currently, opioid analgesics are primarily used to treat SCD pain while self-managed behavioral modalities such as PUSH, are rarely used. Little is known about the effects or mechanisms of PUSH on pain, stress, and sleep symptoms in adults with SCD. Emerging evidence from the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis theory offer insights for understanding the mechanisms. Adding PUSH as a supplement to analgesic therapies will address the dearth of self-management strategies for controlling pain in SCD. PUSH is a simple and cost-effective non-drug intervention that could reduce pain and stress in inpatients with SCD. GR is an intervention where inpatients with SCD are directed to listen to the audio recordings of the PUSH prayer session.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Has SCD diagnosis;

  • Reports pain 3 or greater in the previous 24 hours (0-10 scale)

  • Speaks and reads English

  • 18 years of age or older

  • Uses opioid analgesics on "as needed" or "continuous" basis

  • Allows healing prayers to be offered for them in the name of Jesus Christ

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Legally blind

  • Physically or cognitively unable to complete study measures

Study Design

Total Participants: 40
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Self-monitoring
Phase:
Study Start date:
January 21, 2025
Estimated Completion Date:
June 30, 2027

Study Description

The purpose of this research study is to see if a new computerized stress reduction program, called Pray Until Something Happens (PUSH) stress reduction intervention, can be used to teach people who have sickle cell disease (SCD) how to track their stress and pain daily and use guided audio-visual relaxation exercises to help them reduce their stress and pain. To obtain preliminary data for a larger randomized controlled trial, we propose to recruit 30 adult outpatients with SCD.

The investigators will stratify patients on worst pain intensity (<=5 and >5) and randomly assign 15 adults to Attention Control (Daily stress/pain tracking on Days 1-6) and 15 adults to Experimental (PUSH Prayer Fellowship on Day 1 and daily stress/pain tracking and PUSH intervention on Days 2-6) groups.

Immediate effects on pain, stress, and relaxation responses after the PUSH Prayer Fellowship will be examined. Patients will continue the trial for additional 6 days, with self-management on Days 2-6 and posttest on Day 7 while hospitalized to test short-term (7 days) effects of PUSH on outcomes (pain, stress, sleep quality, and opioid use).

During Days 2-6, the experimental group will participate in an audio/visual Zoom recorded prayer session that will be conducted specifically for each patient by the interventionist. Following the prayer session, the link to the recorded prayer is uploaded to the PAINReportIt program. Patients will access the recorded prayer session on Days 2-6. These patients will listen to the recorded PUSH prayer session at stress onset and as often as they desire. We will investigate mechanisms by which PUSH produces its effects in adult outpatients with SCD.

Connect with a study center

  • University of Florida

    Gainesville, Florida 32610
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • University of Florida

    Gainesville 4156404, Florida 4155751 32610
    United States

    Site Not Available

Map preview placeholder

Not the study for you?

Let us help you find the best match. Sign up as a volunteer and receive email notifications when clinical trials are posted in the medical category of interest to you.