Recruiting

Empowered Relief

Sponsor:

Stanford University

Code:

NCT07799883

Conditions

Chronic Pain

Cesarean Section Complications

Postpartum

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Empowered Relief

Study Details

Brief summary:

This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of delivering Empowered Relief (ER), a single-session pain relief skills class, to postpartum women with ongoing pain and/or pain interference following cesarean delivery. Participants will receive ER in addition to standard postpartum care and will be followed through 12 weeks postpartum.

Conditions

Chronic Pain

Cesarean Section Complications

Postpartum

Study ID

NCT07799883

Start date

Oct 5, 2026

Status verified date

Oct, 2026

Completion date

Mar 14, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jan 31, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Complete informed consent.
2. Age 18 years or above.
3. Postpartum woman who delivered by cesarean within the Stanford Healthcare system.
4. Viable birth (singleton or multiple gestation).
5. All maternal demographics and complications are eligible: parity, medical conditions (e.g., pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes), and post-surgical complications (e.g., hysterectomy, ICU admission, extended hospital stay).
6. All neonatal complications are eligible (e.g., NICU admission, extended hospital stay)
7. Attend the 6-week postpartum clinic visit.
8. Any pain intensity (numeric rating scale \[NRS\] >0/10) and/or pain interference (PROMIS pain interference 8a score >8) at 6 weeks postpartum.
9. English fluency, with ability to read and write.
10. Ability to adhere to and complete study procedures.
11. Access to a smart device if attending ER session via Zoom.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Age under 18 years.
2. Cognitive impairment or psychological factors that would preclude comprehension of study material or full participation.
3. Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent.
4. Chronic pain prior to pregnancy.

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Empowered Relief

Participants will receive a single 120-minute Empowered Relief session in addition to standard postpartum care. The session includes pain education and cognitive-behavioral pain management skills, including relaxation, deep breathing, reframing, and development of a personalized plan. Participants will also receive access to a smartphone relaxation resource (Calm Tool app, or a relaxation audio file if the app cannot be downloaded).

Interventions

Empowered Relief

A single 120-minute pain relief skills class delivered by trained, certified instructors via Zoom or in person. The session includes pain education, cognitive behavioral skills including relaxation, deep breathing, and reframing, and completion of a personalized plan. Following the session, participants receive access to the Calm Tool smartphone relaxation app (or a binaural relaxation audio file if the app cannot be downloaded).

Primary outcome measure

  • Proportion of enrolled patients that complete the Empowered Relief session [ Time Frame: Within 2 weeks of enrollment ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Locations

Stanford Medicine Children's Health - Specialty Services, Welch Road

Recruiting

Palo Alto, California, United States, 94304

Contacts

Pervez Sultan, MD

(669) 800 9929psultan@stanford.edu

Principal Investigator:

Pervez Sultan, MD

More Information

Sponsor

Stanford University

Last update posted

Oct 19, 2026

Last verified

Oct, 2026

Keywords

  • Empowered Relief
  • Postpartum Pain
  • Cesarean Section
  • Caesarean Section
  • Cesarean Delivery
  • Pain Interference
  • Pain Management
  • Chronic Pain
  • Chronic Postsurgical Pain
  • Postpartum

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-10-20. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Stanford University on 2026-10-19. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.