Diana H Ferreira1, Jason W Boland2, Jane L Phillips3, Lawrence Lam3, David C Currow1,2,3,4. 1. 1 Discipline, Palliative and Supportive Services, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia. 2. 2 Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, UK. 3. 3 IMPACCT, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 4. 4 Wolfson Centre for Palliative Care Research, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, UK.
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.
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.
Authors: Tetyana Kendzerska; Tara Gomes; Atul Malhotra; Andrea S Gershon; Marcus Povitz; Daniel I McIsaac; Shawn D Aaron; Frances Chung; Gregory L Bryson; Robert Talarico; Tahmid Ahmed; Michael Godbout; Peter Tanuseputro Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-06-28 Impact factor: 3.752
Authors: Shanna Babalonis; Marion A Coe; Paul A Nuzzo; Michelle R Lofwall; Nur Ali; Paul A Sloan; Laura C Fanucchi; Sharon L Walsh Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2020-11-09 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Chathur Acharya; Sara McGeorge; Andrew Fagan; James B Wade; Hannah Lee; Velimir Luketic; Richard K Sterling; Leroy Thacker; Jasmohan S Bajaj Journal: Hepatol Commun Date: 2022-07-17
Authors: Miriam J Johnson; Sarah Cockayne; David C Currow; Kerry Bell; Kate Hicks; Caroline Fairhurst; Rhian Gabe; David Torgerson; Laura Jefferson; Stephen Oxberry; Justin Ghosh; Karen J Hogg; Jeremy Murphy; Victoria Allgar; John G F Cleland; Andrew L Clark Journal: ESC Heart Fail Date: 2019-08-06