Optimizing Psychological Treatment for Pain After Breast Cancer: A Pilot Study
Optimization of Psychological Treatment for Pain After Breast Cancer Using the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST): A Pilot Study
Study Overview
Status
Status
Conditions
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Intervention / Treatment
Detailed Description
The present pilot study is a precursor for a following larger trial and aims to evaluate the i) feasibility, ii) validity, and iii) preliminary efficacy of the three treatment components that will be further investigated in a subsequent larger trial. The present pilot study will employ the same design as will be used in the subsequent larger trial, namely the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST). Specifically, in the subsequent larger trial, MOST will be used to evaluate the efficacy and change processes of three psychological treatment components selected from so-called "third wave" cognitive therapies (CTs), which have been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of pain after breast cancer.
The overall hypothesis is that the selected third wave CT components will target key maintaining psychological factors in pain, thus leading to reductions in the primary outcomes of pain intensity and -interference. Specifically, we hypothesize that:
- Mindful attention practices will increase attentional control (i.e., the ability to intentionally focus and intentionally shift one's attention), thereby reducing pain hypervigilance, leading to reductions in pain intensity and -interference.
- Decentering practices will reduce fusion with thoughts (i.e., getting caught up in one's thoughts and acting automatically in response to thoughts), thereby reducing pain catastrophizing, leading to reductions in pain intensity and -interference.
- Values and committed action (i.e., behavior linked to values and goals) will increase acceptance of discomfort and reduce avoidant behavior, leading to reductions in pain intensity and -interference.
Study Type
Study Type
Enrollment (Actual)
Enrollment
Phase
Phase
- Not Applicable
Contacts and Locations
Study Locations
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Central Denmark Region
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Aarhus, Central Denmark Region, Denmark, 8000
- Aarhus University
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Participation Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Genders Eligible for Study
Description
Inclusion criteria:
- Diagnosis of primary breast cancer stage I-III
- Min. 6 months post breast cancer treatment (i.e., surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy). Endocrine treatment, e.g., Letrozole or Tamoxifen, and/or Zoledronic acid and/or Herceptin treatment is allowed during study participation
- Pain corresponding to a min. pain score of >= 3 on pain intensity or pain interference measured by 11-point Numeric Rating Scales (NRSs)
- Sufficient ability to communicate in Danish
- Sufficient ability to participate in an online-delivered intervention
Exclusion Criteria:
- Metastatic breast cancer (stage IV)
- Breast cancer recurrence
- Bilateral breast cancer
- Other current cancer disease
- Other current pain condition (e.g., fibromyalgia)
- Current severe psychiatric disorder (e.g., psychosis)
- Inability to communicate in Danish
- Inability to participate in an online-delivered intervention
Study Plan
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: Treatment
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
- Masking: None (Open Label)
Number of Arms
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / ArmParticipant Group / Arm |
Intervention / TreatmentIntervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
|
No Intervention: Waitlist control
Participants randomized to condition 1 are not offered any treatment components immediately upon enrollment, but will be offered a treatment component of own choice at the end of the study.
Total number of sessions: 2 (2 contact hours) following study completion.
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|
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Experimental: Mindful attention
Participants randomized to condition 2 will receive the Mindful attention treatment component.
Total number of sessions: 2 (2 contact hours).
|
The Mindful attention treatment component consists of a breathing exercise and is operationalized as two sessions (1 hour each) delivered over two weeks, i.e., one session per week, with homework between sessions.
Sessions will be delivered online.
|
|
Experimental: Decentering
Participants randomized to condition 3 will receive the Decentering treatment component.
Total number of sessions: 2 (2 contact hours).
|
The Decentering treatment component consists of a guided imagery exercise and is operationalized as two sessions (1 hour each) delivered over two weeks, i.e., one session per week, with homework between sessions.
Sessions will be delivered online.
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Experimental: Values and committed action
Participants randomized to condition 4 will receive the Values and committed action treatment component.
Total number of sessions: 2 (2 contact hours).
|
The Values and committed action treatment component consists of identification of personal values and committed action, and is operationalized as two sessions (1 hour each) delivered over two weeks, i.e., one session per week, with homework between sessions.
Sessions will be delivered online.
|
|
Experimental: Mindful attention + Decentering
Participants randomized to condition 5 will receive the Mindful attention treatment component and the Decentering treatment component.
Total number of sessions: 4 (4 contact hours).
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The Mindful attention treatment component consists of a breathing exercise and is operationalized as two sessions (1 hour each) delivered over two weeks, i.e., one session per week, with homework between sessions.
Sessions will be delivered online.
The Decentering treatment component consists of a guided imagery exercise and is operationalized as two sessions (1 hour each) delivered over two weeks, i.e., one session per week, with homework between sessions.
Sessions will be delivered online.
|
|
Experimental: Mindful attention + Values and committed action
Participants randomized to condition 6 will receive the Mindful attention treatment component and the Values and committed action treatment component.
Total number of sessions: 4 (4 contact hours).
|
The Mindful attention treatment component consists of a breathing exercise and is operationalized as two sessions (1 hour each) delivered over two weeks, i.e., one session per week, with homework between sessions.
Sessions will be delivered online.
The Values and committed action treatment component consists of identification of personal values and committed action, and is operationalized as two sessions (1 hour each) delivered over two weeks, i.e., one session per week, with homework between sessions.
Sessions will be delivered online.
|
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Experimental: Decentering + Values and committed action
Participants randomized to condition 7 will receive the Decentering treatment component and the Values and committed action treatment component.
Total number of sessions: 4 (4 contact hours).
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The Decentering treatment component consists of a guided imagery exercise and is operationalized as two sessions (1 hour each) delivered over two weeks, i.e., one session per week, with homework between sessions.
Sessions will be delivered online.
The Values and committed action treatment component consists of identification of personal values and committed action, and is operationalized as two sessions (1 hour each) delivered over two weeks, i.e., one session per week, with homework between sessions.
Sessions will be delivered online.
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|
Experimental: Mindful attention + Decentering + Value-based action
Participants randomized to condition 8 will receive the Mindful attention treatment component, the Decentering treatment component, and the Values and committed action treatment component.
Total number of sessions: 6 (6 contact hours).
|
The Mindful attention treatment component consists of a breathing exercise and is operationalized as two sessions (1 hour each) delivered over two weeks, i.e., one session per week, with homework between sessions.
Sessions will be delivered online.
The Decentering treatment component consists of a guided imagery exercise and is operationalized as two sessions (1 hour each) delivered over two weeks, i.e., one session per week, with homework between sessions.
Sessions will be delivered online.
The Values and committed action treatment component consists of identification of personal values and committed action, and is operationalized as two sessions (1 hour each) delivered over two weeks, i.e., one session per week, with homework between sessions.
Sessions will be delivered online.
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What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Pain intensity (11-point Numeric Rating Scale, NRS)
Time Frame: Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
|
The NRS is a validated, self-report instrument assessing pain intensity during the last week.
Answer format range: 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain); total score range: 0-10.
Higher scores yield more pain.
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Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
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|
Pain interference (the 7-item subscale of the Brief Pain Inventory, BPI)
Time Frame: Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
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The BPI is a validated, self-report instrument assessing clinical pain.
The BPI pain interference subscale assesses pain interference during the last week across 7 domains, i.e., general activity, mood, walking ability, normal work, relations with other people, sleep, and enjoyment of life.
Answer format range: 0 (no interference) to 10 (maximal interference); total score range: 0-10.
Higher scores yield more pain interference.
|
Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
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Secondary Outcome Measures
Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Pain quality (the 22-item pain descriptors from the McGill Pain Questionnaire, MPQ)
Time Frame: Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
|
The pain descriptors from the MPQ constitutes a validated, self-report instrument assessing pain quality (i.e., pain type, namely continuous pain, intermittent pain, neuropathic pain, affective pain) during the last week.
Answer format range: 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain); total score range: 0-60 (continuous, neuropathic and intermittent pain), 0-40 (affective pain).
Higher scores yield more pain.
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Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
|
|
Pain catastrophizing (the 13-item Pain Catastrophizing Scale, PCS)
Time Frame: Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
|
The PCS is a validated, self-report instrument assessing pain catastrophizing.
Answer format range: 0 (not at all) to 4 (all the time); total score range: 0-52.
Higher scores yield more pain catastrophizing.
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Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
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|
Fear of cancer recurrence (the 9-item Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory, FCRI)
Time Frame: Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
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The FCRI is a validated, self-report instrument assessing fear of cancer recurrence during the last month.
Answer format range: 0 (not at all) to 4 (a great deal); total score range 0-36.
Higher scores yield more fear of cancer recurrence.
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Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
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Well-being (the 5-item WHO-5 Well-Being Index, WHO-5)
Time Frame: Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
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The WHO-5 is a validated, self-report instrument assessing current well-being.
Answer format range: 0 (at no time) to 5 (all the time); total score range: 0-100.
Higher scores yield more well-being.
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Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
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Pain intensity (11-point Numeric Rating Scale, NRS)
Time Frame: Every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component
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Pain intensity during the last 24 hours will be assessed every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component using the NRS.
Answer format range: 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain); total score range: 0-10.
Higher scores yield more pain.
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Every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component
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4. Pain interference (1 aggregated item assessing pain interference during the last 24 hours within the 7 domains measured with the Brief Pain Inventory, BPI, interference subscale)
Time Frame: Every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component
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Pain interference during the last 24 hours will be assessed every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component using 1 aggregated item assessing pain interference across the 7 domains measured with the BPI interference subscale, i.e., general activity, mood, walking ability, normal work, relations with other people, sleep, and enjoyment of life.
Answer format range: 0 (no interference) to 10 (maximal interference); total score range: 0-10.
Higher scores yield more pain interference.
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Every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component
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Pain burden (11-point Numeric Rating Scale, NRS)
Time Frame: Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
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The NRS is a validated, self-report instrument assessing pain burden during the last week.
Answer format range: 0 (no burden) to 10 (maximal burden); total score range: 0-10.
Higher scores yield more pain burden.
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Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
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Psychological distress (the 14-item Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS)
Time Frame: Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
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The HADS is a validated, self-report instrument assessing psychological distress during the last week.
Answer format range: 0 (not at all or never) to 3 (most or all of the time); total score range 0-42.
Higher scores yield more distress.
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Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
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Other Outcome Measures
Other Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Moderator: Therapeutic alliance (the 12-item Working Alliance Inventory, WAI) Revised Short Form
Time Frame: 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
|
The WAI is a validated, self-report instrument assessing therapeutic alliance.
Answer format range: 1 (never) to 7 (all the time); total score range: 12-84.
Higher scores yield a stronger therapeutic alliance.
|
1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
|
|
Mediator: Mindful attention (the 15-item Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, MAAS)
Time Frame: Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
|
The MAAS is a validated, self-report instrument assessing individual differences in the frequency of mindful states over time.
Answer format range: 1 (almost always) to 6 (almost never); total score range: 1-6.
Higher scores yield higher levels of mindful attention.
|
Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
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|
Mediator: Mindful attention (2 items from the 15-item Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, MAAS)
Time Frame: Before each session (Ts)
|
MAAS items 13 and 7 will be assessed before each session (Ts).
Answer format range: 1 (almost always) to 6 (almost never).
Higher scores yield higher levels of mindful attention.
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Before each session (Ts)
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Mediator: Pain acceptance and activity engagement (the 20-item Chronic Pain Acceptance Scale, CPAS)
Time Frame: Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
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The CPAS is a validated, self-report instrument assessing pain acceptance and activity engagement.
Answer format range: 0 (never true) to 6 (always true); subscale score range: 0-54 (pain acceptance subscale), 0-66 (activity engagement subscale).
Higher scores yield more acceptance and activity engagement.
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Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
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Qualitative Interviews
Time Frame: 10-14 days after last session
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Participants will be invited to participate in a 30-minutes semi-structured individual interview 10-14 days after their last session.
The interview serves to support the validation of the treatment components and to provide in-depth knowledge about the participants' experiences through their qualitative comments.
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10-14 days after last session
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Moderator: Demographic characteristics
Time Frame: Baseline (T1)
|
Socio-demographic characteristics will be assessed using single questions (e.g., municipality, marital status, income, work status).
|
Baseline (T1)
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Moderator: Clinical characteristics
Time Frame: Baseline (T1)
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Clinical characteristics will be assessed using single questions (e.g., date of surgery, adjuvant therapy).
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Baseline (T1)
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Moderator: Treatment expectancy
Time Frame: Baseline (T1)
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Treatment expectancy will be assessed using a single question regarding the extent to which the participant believes that the intervention will reduce pain and increase overall well-being.
Answer format range: 1 (not at all) to 5 (a great deal); total score range: 1-5.
Higher scores indicate stronger expectations that the intervention will lead to a positive outcome.
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Baseline (T1)
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Moderator: Home work
Time Frame: Before each session (Ts) and 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
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Homework will be assessed with 4 single items related to i) whether home work has been conducted (yes/no), and the ii) type, iii) frequency (number of days per week), and iv) duration of completed homework (average number of minutes per day).
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Before each session (Ts) and 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
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Mediator: Mindful attention (1 item from the 15-item Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, MAAS)
Time Frame: Every day for 6 days following the first session for each treatment component (Td)
|
MAAS item 6 will be assessed every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component.
Answer format range: 1 (almost always) to 6 (almost never).
Higher scores yield higher levels of mindful attention.
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Every day for 6 days following the first session for each treatment component (Td)
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|
Mediator: Decentering (the 11-item subscale of the Experiences Questionnaire, EQ)
Time Frame: Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
|
The EQ is a validated, self-report instrument assessing decentering.
Answer format range: 1 (do not agree at all) to 5 (agree completely); total score range: 11-55.
Higher scores yield higher levels of decentering.
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Baseline (T1) to 1 week after last session (Post-intervention, T2)
|
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Mediator: Decentering (2 items from the 11-item subscale of the Experiences Questionnaire, EQ)
Time Frame: Before each session (Ts)
|
EQ items 5 and 7 will be assessed before each session (Ts).
Answer format range: 1 (do not agree at all) to 5 (agree completely).
Higher scores yield higher levels of decentering.
|
Before each session (Ts)
|
|
Mediator: Decentering (1 item from the 11-item subscale of the Experiences Questionnaire, EQ)
Time Frame: Every day for 6 days following the first session for each treatment component (Td)
|
EQ item 5 will be assessed every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component.
Answer format range: 1 (do not agree at all) to 5 (agree completely).
Higher scores yield higher levels of decentering.
|
Every day for 6 days following the first session for each treatment component (Td)
|
|
Mediator: Pain acceptance and activity engagement (2 items from the 20-item Chronic Pain Acceptance Scale, CPAS)
Time Frame: Before each session (Ts)
|
CPAS items 1 and 12 will be assessed before each session (Ts).
Answer format range: 0 (never true) to 6 (always true).
Higher scores yield more acceptance and activity engagement.
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Before each session (Ts)
|
|
Mediator: Pain acceptance and activity engagement (1 item from the 20-item Chronic Pain Acceptance Scale, CPAS)
Time Frame: Every day for 6 days following the first session for each treatment component (Td)
|
CPAS item 1 will be assessed every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component.
Answer format range: 0 (never true) to 6 (always true).
Higher scores yield more acceptance and activity engagement.
|
Every day for 6 days following the first session for each treatment component (Td)
|
Collaborators and Investigators
Sponsor
Sponsor
Collaborators
Collaborators
Investigators
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Maja Johannsen, PhD, University of Aarhus
Study record dates
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Actual)
Study Start
Primary Completion (Actual)
Primary Completion
Study Completion (Actual)
Study Completion
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
First Submitted
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Posted (Actual)
First Posted
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
Last Update Posted
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Verified
Last Verified
More Information
Terms related to this study
Keywords
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
Other Study ID Numbers
- MOST Pain Pilot
Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)
Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.
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