Back pain is a major health issue and one of the most common presentations to Australian emergency departments. A key problem is that opioids are overprescribed – given to 70–85% of patients with back pain in emergency departments. Our previous research has shown that the risks of prescribing opioids outweigh its benefits. However, we lack trial data about which implementation strategies should be used to reduce opioid prescribing at scale. We will conduct a randomised trial in 44 emergency departments in NSW, including 8,800 patients. Our primary outcome will examine the proportion of patients with back pain receiving an opioid in the emergency department. This outcome reflects adoption of back pain guidelines and aligns with Australian indicators for judicious use of opioids.

 

Funding: $4.7 million MRFF Clinical Trials Activity Grant. Starts 2026.

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For more information about this project, please contact Dr Gustavo Machado. gustavo.machado@sydney.edu.au