Ximena Camacho, PhD Scholar, UNSW Sydney
In 2023, to help contextualise our Tapentadol vs Oxycodone Study, we engaged a lived-experience research buddy, Steve Marsh, to provide advice and guidance. Steve is taking prescription opioids (including tapentadol) to manage chronic pain and has valuable insights on patient perspectives and priorities. We have had several meetings to review and finalise the study protocol, statistical analysis plan, and preliminary analysis results.
The research team’s initial plan had been to conduct an emulated randomised trial where existing data (e.g., data collected during routine care) can be set up and analysed as if it was from a clinical trial, without actually having to conduct the trial. That approach would have given us more robust results but would have been less reflective of real-world opioid use due to a tightly restricted study population. On Steve’s advice, we decided to take a slightly different approach and assess the risk of falls and fractures in all people prescribed tapentadol, including people prescribed multiple opioids. While this may provide potentially less robust evidence, it will reflect real-world clinical practice and answer a question more relevant for people receiving treatment for pain.
Once the analysis is complete, Steve and I will work together developing a communication plan for targeting relevant stakeholders, including policymakers, clinicians, and consumers.
This was my first experience working with a consumer and I have found it to be incredibly rewarding. Without doubt, Steve’s contributions have made our research more relevant to consumers, care providers, and policymakers. I am grateful for Steve’s patience, candidness, and advice as the work has progressed. Our study is the first in a larger research program that will assess the safety of tapentadol. I look forward to continuing to work with Steve in designing and conducting our subsequent studies.