Opioid Prescribing Practices and Satisfaction in Medical Patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Opioid Prescribing Practices and Satisfaction with Pain Management in Patients Hospitalized on Medical Wards: an International Survey
IRAS ID
135991
Contact name
Dan Melley
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
CF-151, Combined Biomedical Consent and HIPAA authorization (US)
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Pain is a common symptom in hospitalised patients and is often under treated. Since the introduction of new guidelines in the United States in 2001 there has been a large increase in that country in opiate medication prescribing with an increase in related complications and even death. However, there is limited evidence that pain control has improved and some evidence that pain control has worsened. Previous studies suggest that patient’s perception of pain and physician’s prescribing practice for pain control may vary between geographic regions and cultures. To date, no studies have compared inpatient narcotic prescribing patterns or patient perceptions of pain control from a multi-national, multi-cultural perspective. If differences are observed insights into how better to approach pain control may be gained. A questionnaire will be administered and analgesic prescriptions surveyed in order to compare patient’s perceptions of pain control and opioid prescribing practices in the US and in other countries.
Hypotheses
Physicians caring for patients in the U.S. prescribe opioids more frequently and in higher doses than physicians in other countries.
Despite receiving opioid analgesics more frequently and in higher doses, patients in the U.S. are no more satisfied with their pain management than patients in other countries.
New prescriptions for narcotics are prescribed at higher frequencies at discharge in the US compared to other countries.Specific Aims
To determine the prevalence of selected patients with pain who are receiving opioids on medical units in hospitals in the US and a number of other countries.
To calculate the maximum opioid dose prescribed and the average dose of opioid analgesics dispensed in patients in these medical units.
To assess patient satisfaction with pain control in these medical units.
To assess the frequency with which patients are prescribed opioids at discharge in the United States compared to other countries.REC name
London - Brent Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1877
Date of REC Opinion
20 Oct 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion