Blinded patient preference for morphine compared to placebo in the setting of chronic refractory breathlessness – an exploratory study

Ferreira, Diana H.; Silva, José P.; Quinn, Stephen; Abernethy, Amy P.; Johnson, Miriam J.; Oxberry, Stephen G.; Currow, David C.

Abstract

Context Patients’ preference for morphine therapy has received little attention in the setting of chronic refractory breathlessness. However, this is one important factor in considering longer term therapy. Objectives The aim of this secondary analysis is to explore blinded patient preference of morphine compared to placebo for this indication and to define any predictors of preference. Methods Data were pooled from three randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled studies of morphine (four days each) in chronic refractory breathlessness. Blinded patient preferences were chosen at the end of each study. A multivariable regression model was used to establish patient predictors of preference. Results Sixty-five participants provided sufficient data (60 males; median age 74 years; heart failure 55%, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 45%; median Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 2). Forty-three percent of participants preferred morphine (32% placebo and 25% no preference). Morphine preference and younger age were strongly associated: odds ratio = 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.78, 0.93; P

Citation

Ferreira, D. H., Silva, J. P., Quinn, S., Abernethy, A. P., Johnson, M. J., Oxberry, S. G., & Currow, D. C. (2016). Blinded patient preference for morphine compared to placebo in the setting of chronic refractory breathlessness – an exploratory study. Journal of pain and symptom management, 51(2), 247-254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.10.005

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 6, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Oct 24, 2015
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Deposit Date: Nov 17, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 23, 2017
• Journal: Journal of pain and symptom management
• Print ISSN: 0885-3924
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 51
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 247-254
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.10.005
• Keywords: Patient preference, Palliative care, Breathlessness, COPD, Morphine, Randomized controlled trial
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/381509
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0885392415005655
• Additional Information: Authors' accepted manuscript of article published in: Journal of pain and symptom management, 2016, v.51, issue 2.
• Contract Date: Nov 23, 2017