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Comparing Opioid Prescription Patterns in Total Joint Arthroplasty Patients
NCT03236155 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
The United States constitutes \<5% of the world's population but over 80% of the opioid supply and 99% of the hydrocodone supply. In 2014, there were 18,893 deaths from prescription drug overdose, and orthopaedic surgeons are the third highest prescribing physicians for opioids. Surgeons often prescribe opioids to minimize postoperative pain and to reduce the likelihood of readmission for pain. Available data suggests that orthopaedic surgeons are the most likely physicians to prescribe opioids to Medicare patients, whose opioid prescriptions are over 7 times more likely to come from an orthopaedic surgeon than another type of physician, but orthopaedic surgeons also had the highest readmission rate for post-operative pain. Many studies have investigated the utilization of opioids after surgery to assess surgeon's tendencies to overprescribe, demographics of those likely to overuse, and adverse events of opioid abusers. The primary purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to determine whether prescribing fewer opioid pills per prescription reduces the total amount of opioids taken, even while allowing equal total opioid availability via increased frequency of prescription availability.
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- DRUG opioid pain pills
Study Locations (1)
Illinois
- Rush University Medical Center — Chicago
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 304 participants |
| Start Date | 2017-07-01 |
| Est. Completion | 2018-08-26 |
| Phase | Phase 4 |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT03236155
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT03236155 describes a study currently listed as completed. It is categorized as Phase 4, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 304 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is Rush University Medical Center, which has 168 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 1 condition, with Postoperative Pain appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 1 intervention — of which opioid pain pills is the first listed. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT03236155 reports 1 study location spanning 1 distinct geographic area — top geographies include Illinois. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT03236155 about?
NCT03236155 is a clinical study titled "Comparing Opioid Prescription Patterns in Total Joint Arthroplasty Patients". The United States constitutes \<5% of the world's population but over 80% of the opioid supply and 99% of the hydrocodone supply. In 2014, there were 18,893 deaths from prescription drug overdose, and orthopaedic surgeons are the third highest prescribing physicians for opioids. Surgeons often presc...
What is the current status of trial NCT03236155?
This trial is currently completed. It is a Phase 4 study. The enrollment target is 304 participants. The study started on 2017-07-01. Estimated completion is 2018-08-26.
What conditions does trial NCT03236155 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Postoperative Pain. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT03236155?
The interventions under investigation include: opioid pain pills (DRUG). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT03236155?
This trial is sponsored by Rush University Medical Center, which has 168 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT03236155 being conducted?
This trial has 1 study location across Illinois. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
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