Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41188607›Full record

ArticleSpinal cord2025

Community opioid dispensing prevalence and patterns in adults with spinal cord injury in Queensland: a retrospective data linkage study.

Samantha J Borg, Victoria McCreanor, Timothy Geraghty, Karen Luetsch, Steven M McPhail, Susanna Cramb, Rania Shibl, Melanie Proper, Bill Loveday, Cate M Cameron

Abstract read
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Article in Spinal cord, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Samantha J BorgAustralian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia. samantha.borg@hdr.qut.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0003-1376-5320
Victoria McCreanorAustralian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia.
Timothy GeraghtyThe Hopkins Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-8571-8315
Karen LuetschSchool of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Steven M McPhailAustralian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia.
Susanna CrambAustralian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia.
Rania ShiblSchool of Science Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia.
Melanie ProperRoyal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Metro North Health, Herston, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-5389-7099
Bill LovedayRoyal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Metro North Health, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
Cate M CameronAustralian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

designPopulation-based data linkage of state-based opioid dispensing, hospital administrative and death registry data.

objectiveThis study aimed to provide a detailed overview of opioid dispensing in the 2-years following SCI.

settingCommunity.

methodsLinked data were obtained for adults admitted to Queensland hospitals with a newly diagnosed traumatic or non-traumatic SCI from 1 January 2014-31 December 2017. Community opioid dispensing data was obtained for 3 months pre-SCI and up to two years after their Index Hospital Admission for SCI. Chronic dispensing (≥90 cumulative dispensing days) and high end dose (median daily dose of 50 or more oral morphine equivalents in the last 3 months of dispensing) were calculated from dispensing data.

resultsOf the 298 included cases (180 traumatic; 118 non-traumatic), 1 or more opioids were dispensed to 19% of the cohort in the 3 months pre-SCI (40% non-traumatic SCI; 6% traumatic SCI) and to 53% post-SCI (56% non-traumatic SCI; 52% traumatic SCI). Those who were dispensed opioids pre-SCI were 3.7 times more likely to have been dispensed opioids in the observation period (95% confidence interval: 1.90, 7.24, p < 0.001). Thirty percent of the cohort have been dispensed opioids chronically. High opioid end doses were significantly more likely among those with non-traumatic SCI.

conclusionsWhilst it was positive that many were not dispensed an opioid post-SCI, the high prevalence of high opioid doses and chronic duration is concerning. The reliance on opioids for pain management suggests stronger approaches to coordinated and improved multi-disciplinary long-term pain management is needed.

Indexed as

Analgesics, OpioidDrug PrescriptionsSpinal Cord InjuriesAdultAgedFemaleHumansInformation Storage and RetrievalMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceQueenslandRetrospective StudiesYoung AdultAnalgesics, Opioid

Identifiers

PMID41188607

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.