Intervention for hospitalized people with chronic pain and elevated risk for opioid-related harm: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: The management of analgesia in people hospitalized with chronic pain and elevated risk for opioid-related harm is challenging. While opioid stewardship programs could provide guidance, their feasibility in this population has not been examined.

Objectives: To develop a case identification tool and evaluate the feasibility of an electronic medical record (EMR)-delivered opioid stewardship and pain intervention among hospitalized people with chronic pain and elevated risk for opioid-related harm.

Methods: After developing and evaluating the operating characteristics of a case identification tool to identify people with chronic pain and elevated risk for opioid-related harm, hospitalized adults with chronic pain and elevated risk for opioid-related harm were randomized to an EMR-delivered opioid stewardship and pain intervention versus usual care. Primary outcomes were feasibility-based. Exploratory outcomes were pain-related clinical outcomes.

Results: The case identification tool had a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 95.7%. The trial recruited 52/97 (54%) of potential participants who completed 52/52 (100%) potential assessments and of whom 45/52 (87%) were retained in the study at 4 weeks, demonstrating feasibility. On average, both treatment arms received 56% of the recommended guideline-concordant care and there was no significant difference in opioid and pain-related care in the two groups.

Conclusion: It is both feasible to develop an EMR-based tool to prospectively identify hospitalized people with chronic pain and elevated risk for opioid-related harm as well as recruit these individuals to an EMR-delivered opioid stewardship and pain intervention. Additional strategies to support the provision of guideline-concordant care may be warranted.