Developing an Opioid Taper Intervention Before Total Joint Arthroplasty

Purpose

The goal of this clinical trial is to develop an pharmacist-led preoperative opioid taper intervention for patients undergoing total knee or hip replacement who are on chronic opioids before their surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are: - Is the intervention feasible and acceptable to patients? - Does the intervention result in a decrease in opioid dose during the preoperative period? Participants will meet with a clinical pharmacist, who will provide some basic education on pain and opioids, and will propose an opioid taper schedule. The pharmacist will then follow-up with the participant by phone each week until surgery to assess progress and adjust the taper as necessary.

Conditions

  • Arthritis Knee
  • Arthritis Hip
  • Chronic Pain

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • decided to pursue primary, unilateral total knee or hip arthroplasty with planned surgery date in 4-8 weeks - currently taking between 20 and 90 MME of oral opioids, and that dose has been stable for at least 3 months - have a reliable telephone number for contact - speaks English

Exclusion Criteria

  • Taking opioid medications that include: - Buprenorphine - Methadone - Long-acting formulations of opioid pain medications (e.g., extended-release oxycodone and extended-release morphine) - Transdermal formations of opioid pain medications (e.g., fentanyl patches)

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
N/A
Intervention Model
Single Group Assignment
Primary Purpose
Supportive Care
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Pharmacist-led opioid taper intervention 		The participant will attempt to taper their opioid dose by ~50% during the 4-6 week preoperative period. Participants will meet with a clinical pharmacist, who will provide some basic education on pain and opioids, and will propose an opioid taper schedule. The pharmacist will then follow-up with the participant by phone each week until surgery to assess progress and adjust the taper as necessary.
  • Behavioral: opioid taper
    The participant will attempt to taper their opioid dose by ~50% during the 4-6 week preoperative period

Recruiting Locations

UAB Hospital-Highlands
Birmingham, Alabama 35205

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Study Contact

Kevin R Riggs, MD
205-934-0778
kriggs@uabmc.edu