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Patient-Centered Opioid Tapering Study
Not Recruiting
Trial ID: NCT03303209
Purpose
This is an observational study of a voluntary opioid tapering protocol conducted in community
outpatients taking long term prescription opioids for chronic pain. Patients who would
otherwise continue with their existing opioid prescriptions were encouraged to participate in
a voluntary opioid taper program. Interested patients were identified by their pain
physician, Dr. Richard Stieg, and then completed an online informed consent document and
baseline self-report assessments including types and doses of opioid medications as well as
demographic and psychosocial measures, clinical and pain characteristics. Patients were
either given or mailed a free copy of a patient book The Opioid-Free Pain Relief Kit, or Less
Pain, Fewer Pills: Avoid the dangers of prescription opioids and gain control over chronic
pain. Over the following weeks and up to 4 months, Dr. Stieg implemented a slow, individually
tailored opioid taper in all patient participants. Follow-up online self-report surveys were
completed at 4 months post enrollment. Opioid dose data were confirmed via medical chart
review, and doses were converted to a standardized morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD).
Main outcome was change in opioid dose baseline to 4 months. Secondary outcome was change in
pain intensity (numeric rating scale, 0-10) baseline to 4 months.
Official Title
Patient-Centered Opioid Tapering in Outpatients With Chronic Pain and Long-Term Opioid Use
Stanford Investigator(s)
Beth Darnall
Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine (Adult Pain) and, by courtesy, of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (General Psychiatry & Psychology (Adult))
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Over age 18
- Chronic pain
- Chronic daily opioids
- Wish to reduce opioid dose
Exclusion Criteria:
- Not able to communicate in English
- Not able to complete electronic questionnaires
- No major cognitive impairment
- Not actively engaged in treatment for substance use disorder
Intervention(s):
other: Patient-centered opioid tapering protocol
Not Recruiting
Contact Information
Stanford University
School of Medicine
300 Pasteur Drive
Stanford,
CA
94305