ArticleEuropean journal of clinical pharmacology2019
A population-based study of transdermal fentanyl initiation in Australian clinical practice.
Article in European journal of clinical pharmacology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.
- Efficacy and Safety of Fentanyl Citrate Patch, Including a Low-Dose 0.5 mg Formulation, in Opioid-Naïve Patients with Cancer Pain.Clinical drug investigation · 2020Trial
- Fentanyl Research: Key to Fighting the Opioid Crisis.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Trends in the Prescription of Strong Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain in Primary Care in Catalonia: Opicat-Padris-Project.Pharmaceutics · 2022Article
- Comparing rates and characteristics of ambulance attendances related to extramedical use of pharmaceutical opioids in Victoria, Australia from 2013 to 2018.Addiction (Abingdon, England) · 2020Observational
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
purposeAlthough guidelines caution against initiation of transdermal (TD) fentanyl among those who are opioid naïve, there is concern that not all people receive adequate prior opioid exposure. This study examined the percentage of people who are opioid naïve at the time of TD fentanyl initiation in Australia; strengths initiated; and characteristics associated with being opioid naïve.
methodsThis is a national retrospective cohort study derived from a 10% sample of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme concessional beneficiaries initiating TD fentanyl between 29 September 2009-31 December 2013. Individuals were deemed opioid naïve if they had no opioid dispensings in the previous 90 days. Logistic regression was used to determine characteristics associated with being opioid naïve, including socio-demographics, likely comorbidities and previous analgesic use.
resultsA total of 13,166 people initiated TD fentanyl; 60.4% were female and 76.2% were aged ≥ 65 years. Three in ten (30.4%) were opioid naïve and 63.2% initiated the 12 mcg/h patch. Those who were opioid naïve were more likely to be female (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.35; 95% CI 1.25-1.46), older (aOR 1.85; 95% CI 1.54-2.28 for those ≥ 85 years) and previously dispensed medicines for dementia (aOR 1.37; 95% CI 1.04-1.80). People previously dispensed medicines for cancer were less likely to be opioid naïve (aOR 0.57; 95% CI 0.48-0.67).
conclusionsThree in ten Australians initiating TD fentanyl are opioid naïve. Our findings suggest that specific patient sub-populations already at increased risk of opioid-related adverse events are not receiving prior opioid treatment before initiation, highlighting the need for greater adherence to current treatment guidelines.
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Registered trials
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