Strategies for Prescribing Analgesics Comparative Effectiveness Trial

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Back Pain, Osteoarthritis

In brief

Chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions are among the most prevalent conditions in VA primary care. Over the past two decades, improved clinical attention to pain has been associated with exponentially greater use of long-term opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain, both within and outside the VA system. Despite this change in practice, the proper place of opioids in chronic pain management continues to be controversial because research has not demonstrated the long-term safety and effectiveness of opioids for chronic musculoskeletal pain. The Strategies for Prescribing Analgesics Comparative Effectiveness (SPACE) Trial will fill a critical gap in the evidence by comparing effectiveness and harms of two clinically relevant analgesic prescribing strategies-one that emphasizes early use of strong opioids and one that delays and minimizes opioid use-for Veterans with chronic back, hip, or knee pain. SPACE is designed to be highly relevant to clinical decision-making in VA primary care and to produce knowledge that will improve the lives of Veterans living with chronic pain.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01583985

Run by

VA Office of Research and Development

People needed

265

Starts

2013-06-01

Expected to finish

2017-05-31

Last updated by the study team

2019-03-06

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Veterans with chronic back or lower extremity osteoarthritis pain with moderate-severe intensity and interference with function despite analgesic therapy.

You may not qualify if…

• schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or other psychosis;
• moderately severe cognitive impairment;
• anticipated back, knee, or hip surgery within 12 months;
• anticipated life expectancy of less than 12 months;
• current chronic daily opioid therapy;
• absolute contraindications to either prescribing strategy.

Where it is running

• Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN — Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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