Does increasing morphine result in improved function in chronic pain?

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    What is the relationship between increase in morphine dose and improvement in functional outcome in patients with chronic back pain

  • IRAS ID

    174831

  • Contact name

    Shiva Tripathi

  • Contact email

    Shiva.Tripathi@lthtr.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 2 months, 13 days

  • Research summary

    This study will explore the relationship between escalation of morphine dose and improvement in functional ability.

    It will investigate the effect of increasing the dose of morphine in line with usual clinical practice, and if it leads to an improvement in baseline function. In addition it will explore whether improving pain will improve function.

    Functional change will be assessed using both subjective and objective measurements - Oswentry Disability Index (ODI), Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) and Modified Schober's Test (MST). The ViMove - a non invasive system used to measure body movements and understand their contribution to pain - will also be used to provide and objective measurement of movement. In addition, all patients will be asked to complete a short pain questionnaire (Brief Pain Inventory, BPI).

    This is an important area of research which can help inform the practice of prescribing of morphine in chronic back pain patients.

  • REC name

    South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    15/SC/0307

  • Date of REC Opinion

    21 May 2015

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion