Understanding the use and impact of early opioid prescriptions for work-related low-back pain

Reasons for the study

Prescription opioid use among workers with musculoskeletal disorders is a significant source of concern for the workers' compensation system. Prior studies suggest opioids prescribed shortly after a claim for low-back pain (LBP) can lead to prolonged work disability. However, these studies likely underestimated prescriptions, did not always distinguish exposure from outcome windows, and did not account for potential confounding factors, such as pre-injury health care and prescriptions, use of other therapies, and comorbidities. They also compared opioid users to non-users, the latter of which may include claimants who may differ in injury severity. The objective of this study was to address some of these limitations and provide further clarity on this important issue.

Objectives of the study

  • To describe pre- and post-injury patterns of health care and LBP-relevant prescription dispensing and their associated factors
  • To describe post-injury prescription dispensing patterns over time
  • To assess the validity of workers’ compensation prescription billing data
  • To describe post-claim opioid prescription patterns suggestive of possible opioid misuse or problematic prescribing
  • To determine if prescription opioids dispensed within the first eight weeks of filing a new workers' compensation lost-time claim for LBP are associated with future work disability compared to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or muscle relaxants

Related scientific publications

Project status

Completed 2017

Research team

  • Sheilah Hogg-Johnson, Institute for Work & Health (PI)
  • Nancy Carnide, Institute for Work & Health
  • Andrea Furlan, Institute for Work & Health
  • Hyunmi Lee, Institute for Work & Health
  • Pierre Côté, University of Ontario Institute of Technology
  • Mieke Koehoorn, University of British Columbia

Collaborators and partners

WorkSafeBC

Funded by

Canadian Institutes of Health Research, WorkSafeBC