Study Design: The proposed study is a randomized, controlled trial comparing "education only" with tailored education and coaching for patient activation (TEC). Eligible patients scheduled to see their oncologist at any of the three participating health systems will be invited to participate in the study. Consenting patients will be randomly allocated to TEC or education only. The intervention will be applied during a brief session just before the scheduled oncology visit. Allocation will be concealed from physicians, interviewers, and data analysts. Patients assigned to the usual care group will review the content of a standard informational booklet on cancer pain. A health educator will review key learning points and be available to answer questions. Patients assigned to the TEC group will receive an intervention designed to improve self-efficacy for both pain self-management and participation in care. Data will be collected from patients in a private waiting alcove just prior to the index visit (personal interview); during the index visit (audio-taping); and then two, six, and 12 weeks after the visit (phone interview). In addition to assessing effectiveness of the intervention, the study is designed to measure potential mediators and intermediate outcomes (attitudes, beliefs, self-efficacy, patient participation, quality of care, and adherence) and to examine the mechanisms underlying the intervention's beneficial effects. The study will contribute to a test of Social Cognitive Theory by examining whether the benefit of the intervention is more powerfully attenuated by changes in attitudes and beliefs or by changes in self-efficacy.