A qualitative interview study to examine the experiences of long-term high-dose opioid medication for chronic non-cancer pain in patients and their family members or carers

Aim

To achieve a deeper understanding of the development, maintenance and effects of dysfunctional high-dose opioid medication use in patients with chronic non-cancer pain by carrying out in-depth interviews with them and their carers.

Objectives

• To interview up to twenty patients who have undergone an intervention to rapidly reduce high doses of opioid medication, and their partners, family members or carers, in order to obtain and analyse their accounts of their experiences of chronic pain, their use of opioid pain medication and the effects of the intervention on their pain, functioning and quality of life.
• To interview up to ten patients newly referred to the secondary care clinic through which the intervention is carried out, and their partners, family members or carers, in order to obtain and analyse their accounts of their experiences of chronic pain and their use of opioid pain medication.
• To re-interview the latter group after the intervention about the effects of the intervention on their pain, functioning and quality of life.

This project was interrupted as a result of the Covid pandemic.  A journal article reporting the findings of the study has been submitted for publication.. The possibility of collecting follow-up data from some of the participants is being investigated.