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

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.