The impact of therapeutic opioid agonists on driving-related psychomotor skills assessed by a driving simulator or an on-road driving task: A systematic review

Ferreira, Diana H; Boland, Jason W.; Phillips, Jane L; Lam, Lawrence; Currow, David C.

Abstract

Background: Driving cessation is associated with poor health-related outcomes. People with chronic diseases are often prescribed long-term opioid agonists that have the potential to impair driving. Studies evaluating the impact of opioids on driving-related psychomotor skills report contradictory results likely due to heterogeneous designs, assessment tools and study populations. A better understanding of the effects of regular therapeutic opioid agonists on driving can help to inform the balance between individual’s independence and community safety. Aim: To identify the literature assessing the impact of regular therapeutic opioid agonists on driving-related psychomotor skills for people with chronic pain or chronic breathlessness. Design: Systematic review reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis statement; PROSPERO Registration CRD42017055909. Data sources: Six electronic databases and grey literature were systematically searched up to January, 2017. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) empirical studies reporting data on driving simulation, on-the-road driving tasks or driving outcomes; (2) people with chronic pain or chronic breathlessness; and (3) taking regular therapeutic opioid agonists. Critical appraisal used the National Institutes of Health’s quality assessment tools. Results: From 3809 records screened, three studies matched the inclusion criteria. All reported data on people with chronic non-malignant pain. No significant impact of regular therapeutic opioid agonists on people’s driving-related psychomotor skills was reported. One study reported more intense pain significantly worsened driving performance. Conclusion: This systematic review does not identify impaired simulated driving performance when people take regular therapeutic opioid agonists for symptom control, although more prospective studies are needed.

Citation

Ferreira, D. H., Boland, J. W., Phillips, J. L., Lam, L., & Currow, D. C. (2018). The impact of therapeutic opioid agonists on driving-related psychomotor skills assessed by a driving simulator or an on-road driving task: A systematic review. Palliative medicine, 32(4), 786-803. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216317746583

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: Nov 14, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jan 4, 2018
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Aug 29, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 12, 2020
• Journal: Palliative Medicine
• Print ISSN: 0269-2163
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 786-803
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216317746583
• Keywords: Opioids; Opioid agonists; Chronic pain; Chronic breathlessness; Driving simulator; Driving performance; Driving outcomes
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/756414
• Publisher URL: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0269216317746583