Pain Management Research in the Clinical Setting
An Interview with Maryjane Cerrone, RN
| PainEDU interviews Maryjane Cerrone, RN, Team Leader for pain research at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Pennsylvania. Through the Department of Neurosciences and Pain Research, this group conducts clinical research in many areas of neurology and pain. |
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Questions
1: Please discuss the importance of clinical research for the treatment of patients in pain.
 2: What are some of the challenges in conducting research in a clinical setting?
3: What strategies do you employ in order to successfully complete research studies while meeting other demands in your practice?
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Please discuss the importance of clinical research for the treatment of patients in pain. Maryjane Cerrone, RN: Clinical research serves as an important aspect of patient care. The advances that have been made to date have helped us establish better treatment plans for our patients in chronic pain. New medications are needed for various areas of pain management and clinical research helps to develop these medications.
The benefits of conducting research can range from free medication for patients, stipends for completing questionnaires and helping the patient with their pain. Patients can also benefit by receiving free medical care while in the study. Research enables us to study different mechanisms of actions for various pain diagnoses. Often the patients who enroll in a research study get more personalized attention to their pain, their symptoms and any problems that may arise during their participation. Sometimes our team discovers issues that may have gone unnoticed by a PCP due to the frequent blood work and other assessments we do. The atmosphere is more laid back and not as rushed. Many patients are grateful for the time that is spent with them and allowing them to talk about what is going on. 
EC: What are some of the challenges in conducting research in a clinical setting? MC: It presents challenges in regards to recruitment. In our clinical practice many patients are referred by a family practice physician. They come to the Pain Center on a variety of medications which are not effective in helping their pain. The challenge presents in patients fitting the criteria for the specific study, having patients stop medications that they are already taking, and patient commitment to the time of the research study. Some patients are willing to participate in order to help science, some have failed multiple medications, and some have limited income. Patient recruitment requires persistence in calling those who express an interest. Advertisement in newspapers often results in many people calling but few who are interested or eligible to participate.
EC: What strategies do you employ in order to successfully complete research studies while meeting other demands in your practice? MC: The realities in our practice are that we have a dedicated staff in providing research. The time is spent in patient recruitment, study procedures and completion of documents. We routinely review protocols to assess the scientific merit, feasibility of patient recruitment and time available for activities. Many times we find patients who are willing but not eligible to participate. Many times the effort in getting a patient into a study falls short.
The practice sees about 1500 patients a month which gives us a good data base to review for recruitment. We also have flyers that we post in the Pain Center and other physician offices. Conducting clinical research in pain management is both challenging and rewarding for our profession.
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