Cost of opioid-treated chronic low back pain: Findings from a pilot randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation-based intervention.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Opioid-treated chronic low back pain (CLBP) is debilitating, costly, and often refractory to existing treatments. This secondary analysis aims to pilot-test the hypothesis that mindfulness meditation (MM) can reduce economic burden related to opioid-treated CLBP.

Design

Twenty-six-week unblinded pilot randomized controlled trial, comparing MM, adjunctive to usual-care, to usual care alone.

Setting

Outpatient.

Participants

Thirty-five adults with opioid-treated CLBP (≥30 morphine-equivalent mg/day) for 3 + months enrolled; none withdrew.

Intervention

Eight weekly therapist-led MM sessions and at-home practice.

Outcome measures

Costs related to self-reported healthcare utilization, medication use (direct costs), lost productivity (indirect

SUBMITTER: Zgierska AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5836724 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May/Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature