Despite evidence recommending against the use of opioids, about 20% of people with osteoarthritis take opioids on a long-term basis to manage their pain. But are they helpful? Or are they potentially harmful? Aili Langford joins us on this week's episode to discuss.

Aili is a hospital pharmacist employed at Concord Repatriation General Hospital in Sydney. Aili’s research is focused on developing the world’s first evidence-based guideline for deprescribing opioids. She recently submitted her PhD thesis on this topic. Following public consultation and independent expert and methodological review, the guideline recommendations were approved by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (as of 14/09/2022).

RESOURCES

Websites

• NPS MedicineWise: Opioid medicines and non-cancer pain
• Pain Management Network: has a range of online resources to develop skills and knowledge for self-management
• Painaustralia has a range of fact sheets 

Journal articles

• Time trends in use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids one year after total hip arthroplasty due to osteoarthritis during 1996–2018: a population-based cohort study of 103,209 patients
• Challenges of opioid deprescribing and factors to be considered in the development of opioid deprescribing guidelines: a qualitative analysis
• “The lesser of two evils”: a framework analysis of consumers' perspectives on opioid deprescribing and the development of opioid deprescribing guidelines
• Communication techniques for opioid analgesic tapering conversations linked within Clinician information sheet on opioid analgesic tapering

CONNECT WITH US

• Twitter: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorg
• Email: hello@jointaction.info
• Website: www.jointaction.info/podcast

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