Empowered Relief for Caregivers of Children with Chronic Pain

(ER-CY Trial)

This trial tests an online class called Empowered Relief for Caregivers (ER-CY), designed to assist those caring for children and teens with chronic pain. The two-hour class teaches skills to manage caregiving stress and respond more effectively to a child’s pain. Researchers aim to determine if caregivers find the program helpful and if it reduces their stress while enhancing their child’s daily life. The trial seeks caregivers of children diagnosed with chronic pain for over three months who speak English. As an unphased trial, it offers caregivers an opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance support for families managing chronic pain.

Research shows that the Empowered Relief for Caregivers (ER-CY) program is safe and easy to manage. This program consists of a two-hour online class that teaches caregivers of children with chronic pain how to handle stress. Studies on similar programs, such as Empowered Relief for individuals with chronic pain, have found that these classes improve pain management and quality of life without causing harm.

The ER-CY program is neither a medication nor a physical treatment, so there are no reports of side effects or adverse reactions. It focuses on skill-building, making it generally safe to participate in. Participants learn to better manage their stress and respond to their child's pain.

Empowered Relief for Caregivers (ER-CY) is unique because it offers a skills-based class specifically designed to support caregivers of children with chronic pain, a group often overlooked by traditional pain management approaches. Unlike standard treatments that mainly focus on medicating the child or providing direct interventions like physical therapy or counseling, ER-CY empowers caregivers through a virtual, interactive session that equips them with strategies to manage their own stress and respond to their child's pain more effectively. Researchers are excited about this approach because it not only addresses caregiver well-being but also potentially enhances the overall caregiving environment, offering a holistic benefit that current treatments may not provide.

Research has shown that Empowered Relief (ER) classes can significantly aid individuals with chronic pain. One study found that a single ER session offered benefits comparable to an 8-session cognitive behavioral therapy course over six months. These benefits include reduced pain, decreased fatigue, and improved sleep and quality of life. ER also enhances family relationships and reduces stress for caregivers. In this trial, all participants will receive the Empowered Relief for Caregivers (ER-CY) intervention, designed to effectively support caregivers of children with chronic pain by teaching stress management and positive response techniques.¹²³⁴⁶