Open access

assessment tools
Risk of behaviour suggestive
Protocol
of opioid abuse: a
protocol for a systematic review of validated

Sheila Raposo Galindo,​1 ​Tatiana de Paula Santana da Silva,​2 Manoel

​
Henrique da
Nóbrega Marinho,​3 ​Carlos Eduardo de Souza Leão Ribeiro,​4 ​Murilo Duarte da Costa
Lima,​5 ​Selene Cordeiro Vasconcelos​6

To cite: ​Galindo SR, Silva TdPSda,

Marinho MHdN, ​et al​. Risk of
behaviour suggestive of opioid
abuse: a protocol for a systematic
review of validated assessment
tools. ​BMJ Open ​2018;8:e021948.
doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2018-021948

► ​Prepublication history
for this paper is available online. To
view these files, please visit the
journal online (http:// dx. doi. org/
10. 1136/ bmjopen- 2018- 021948).

Received 30 January 2018

Revised 3 July 2018 Accepted
23 August 2018 © Author(s) (or their
employer(s)) 2018.
Re-use permitted under
CC BY-NC. No
commercial re-use. See
rights and permissions.
Published by BMJ.
f individuals with non- cancer pain are influenced by the
naging and properly following the prescription. The use of
ehaviour suggestive of opioid abuse is important for health
with non-cancer pain. The aim of the proposed review is to
for measuring the risk of behaviour suggestive of opioid abuse
analysis The review process will be based on the Preferred
Meta-Analysis Protocols. The Consensus- Based Standards for
ments will be used to analyse the assessment tools. Two
ure search and analysis procedures. Searches will be
eb of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied ► ​Limitations may be related to the subjectivity of the
s, and the ‘snowball’ strategy will be employed. The inclusion criteria will be (1) researchers with regard to delineating evidence fo-
ssment tools designed exclusively for measuring the risk of behaviour suggestive cused on specific gaps in knowledge in the field of
sessment tools designed for evaluation of adults with chronic non-cancer pain. interest.
the studies retrieved from the databases will be analysed for the preselection of ► ​Limitations may be related to the subjectivity of the
mitted to a full-text analysis to define the final sample. Divergence of opinion researchers with regard to delineating evidence fo-
be resolved by consulting a third reviewer. Ethics and dissemination The review cused on specific gaps in knowledge in the field of
sessment tools available for measuring the risk of behaviour suggestive of opioid interest.
reducing the risk of deaths due to abusive consumption and for clinical
chronic non-cancer pain. PrOsPErO registration number CRD42018081577.
to on
depen
of pa
mption of opioids and the risk
tible
ions with chronic non-cancer
consu
derable discussion in recent
patien
f opioids can result in serious
an op
strengths and limitations of this study The risk of behaviour suggestive of opioid abuse constitutes a
strengths and limitations of this study predictor of the develop- ment of a substance use
disorder, which is a real possibility for individuals with
► ​The review broadens the understanding on the risk chronic non-cancer pain and a considerable concern for
of behaviour suggestive of opioid abuse among adults health professionals.​4 ​Opioid use patterns of individuals
with chronic non-cancer pain. with non-cancer pain are influenced by the behavioural
► ​The review broadens the understanding on the risk dynamics of the individual in managing and properly
of behaviour suggestive of opioid abuse among adults following the prescription, as well as the skills of health
with chronic non-cancer pain. professionals regarding the identifi- cation of risk and
► ​It provides an overview of assessment tools for eval-
protection factors of opioid abuse by these individuals.​5
uating the opioid consumption pattern of adults with
The risk of behaviour suggestive of opioid abuse constitutes a
chronic non-cancer pain.
predictor of the develop- ment of a substance use
► ​It provides an overview of assessment tools for eval-
disorder, which is a real possibility for individuals with
uating the opioid consumption pattern of adults with
chronic non-cancer pain. chronic non-cancer pain and a considerable concern for
► ​It provides evidence of the best assessment tools for
health professionals.​4 ​Opioid use patterns of individuals
measuring this health phenomenon to assist in the with non-cancer pain are influenced by the behavioural
decision-making processes of health profes- sionals dynamics of the individual in managing and properly
who provide care to such patients. following the prescription, as well as the skills of health
► ​It provides evidence of the best assessment tools for professionals regarding the identifi- cation of risk and
measuring this health phenomenon to assist in the protection factors of opioid abuse by these individuals.​5
decision-making processes of health profes- sionals The risk of behaviour suggestive of opioid abuse
who provide care to such patients. constitutes a predictor of the develop- ment of
► ​It assists in the development of therapeutic guide- a substance use disorder, which is a real
lines for the management of opioid consumption in possibility for individuals with chronic
adults with chronic non-cancer pain. non-cancer pain and a considerable concern
► ​It assists in the development of therapeutic guide-
for health professionals.​4 ​Opioid use patterns
lines for the management of opioid consumption in
of individuals with non-cancer pain are
adults with chronic non-cancer pain.
influenced by the behavioural dynamics of the
► ​It assists in the development of therapeutic guide-
lines for the management of opioid consumption in individual in managing and properly
adults with chronic non-cancer pain. following the prescription, as well as the skills
 of health professionals regarding the identifi- of life of affected individuals.​6 ​Patients with sickle
cation of risk and protection factors of opioid cell anaemia experience chronic pain that is treated
abuse by these individuals.​5 with opioids, making them a vulnerable population.​7
In this context, sickle cell anaemia stands out and is a chronic Therefore, the use of a valid, reliable assessment
condition with diverse tool for measuring the risk of behaviour suggestive of opioid
For numbered affiliations see end abuse is an important monitoring strategy that can help guide
of article.
health professionals in the management of these patients.
Correspondence to ​Dr Sheila Moreover, evidence produced from such investi- gations can
Raposo Galindo; sheilagalindo@ be used to help healthcare professionals also monitor other
hotmail. com types of patients.
mption of opioids and the risk Although two systematic reviews have been found
ions with chronic non-cancer that evaluate instruments for measuring risk of opioid abuse,​8
derable discussion in recent 9 ​
the current proposal for a systematic review differs in
f opioids can result in serious
important methodological aspects: (1) more comprehensive
search in other databases and use of reverse search strategy,
The risk of behaviour suggestive of opioid abuse constitutes a
with no time limit and no language restriction; (2) only
predictor of the develop- ment of a substance use
methodological studies of primary data were included; and
disorder, which is a real possibility for individuals with
(3) proposes a rigorous evaluation of the psychometric
chronic non-cancer pain and a considerable concern for
properties of the Consensus-Based Standards for the
health professionals.​4 ​Opioid use patterns of individuals
Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN),
with non-cancer pain are influenced by the behavioural
besides including aspects related to the clinical application of
dynamics of the individual in managing and properly
these instruments.
following the prescription, as well as the skills of health
In this context, the proposed systematic review has
professionals regarding the identifi- cation of risk and
considerable clinical implications with regard to assisting
protection factors of opioid abuse by these individuals.​5
health professionals in the choice of assessment tools that are
The risk of behaviour suggestive of opioid abuse constitutes a
appropriate to the profile of their patients, since an
predictor of the develop- ment of a substance use
understanding of the risk of behaviour suggestive of opioid
disorder, which is a real possibility for individuals with
abuse can assist in decision-making and in the adequate
chronic non-cancer pain and a considerable concern for
management of adult patients with chronic non-cancer pain.
health professionals.​4 ​Opioid use patterns of individuals
Thus, the following research question was posed to guide the
with non-cancer pain are influenced by the behaviouralanalysis of evidence: Do the instru- ments for measuring the
dynamics of the individual in managing and properly risk of behaviour suggestive of opioid abuse of adults have
following the prescription, as well as the skills of adequate
health psychometric prop- erties? The proposed study will
professionals regarding the identifi- cation of risk and a systematic review of the literature on the
involve
5
protection factors of opioid abuse by these individuals.​
psychometric properties of tools for measuring the risk of
In this context, sickle cell anaemia stands out and is a chronic
behaviour suggestive of opioid abuse in adults with
condition with diverse non-cancer pain.

1 ​Galindo SR, ​et al​. ​BMJ Open 2​ 018;​8​:e021948. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-021948

Open access
ds/dEsIgn design and registration of the study ​The present
protocol is registered with the Inter- national Prospective
clinical manifestations that can lead to recurring
r of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). The report on the
hospi- talisations and death. Adequate healthcare with
s for the review protocol was drafted in accordance with the
a special- ised multidisciplinary team and social
ed Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
support can contribute to a reduction in the number 10 of
ls.​ ​The report on the methods for the systematic review article
hospitalisa- tions and an improvement in the quality
low the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and
Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.​11 to locate instruments developed specifically for adults with
Patient and public involvement ​It is a systematic review protocolthis disease due to the high incidence of chronic pain and
article. We do not work with patients or their companions. opioid abuse in this population.
To minimise the risk of bias of the individual studies,
Inclusion of articles ​The following will be the inclusion criteria for two independent reviewers will perform analyses of the titles,
abstracts
the selec- tion of articles: (1) validation studies; (2) assessment tools and full texts based on the eligibility criteria. In
designed for quantitative evaluation of the risk of behaviour cases of a divergence of opinion regarding the inclusion of a
suggestive of opioid abuse; (3) assessment tools designed for given study, a third reviewer will be consulted. Descriptive
evaluation of adults with chronic non-cancer pain; (4) assessment tools analyses will be performed of the characteristics of the
designed for adult groups; (5) assessment tools designed for studies, participants, psychometric properties and clinical
quantitative evaluation of the risk of behaviour suggestive of opioidusefulness of the assessment tools.
abuse based on self-reported information from patients; and (6)
articles describing the psychometric properties of the tools. No screening, data extraction and comparative content
restrictions will be imposed with regard to language or year of analysis ​All results of the database searching will be filed to
publication. Systematic reviews will be excluded. record the initial search strategy and subsequent
modifications. Duplicate articles will only be counted once.
search strategy ​The search strategy will be based on Authors will be contacted for further information, when
thePopulation Inter- vention Comparator Outcome Setting​ necessary.
12

method to form the research question, determine the title and Data extraction will involve the use of a chart specif-
choose the keywords. The PubMed, Web of Science, ically designed for the proposed study to organise the
Cochrane, Scopus, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and following data: 1. Information and general characteristics:
Allied Health Literature databases will be searched, and theauthors, year
‘snowball’ strategy will also be employed. of publication, country and sample characteristics. 2.
The following keywords indexed in the MeSH terms Description of assessment tool: acronym of the mea- sure,
domains, number of items, scores and applica- tion format.
and combinations will be used: ‘sickle cell disease’, ‘opioid’,
The data will be subsequently tabulated in a databank created
‘validation studies’, ‘opioid related disorders’, ‘chronic pain’
exclusively for the proposed study.
and ‘instrument’. The term ‘sickle cell disease’ was included

2 ​Galindo SR, ​et al​. ​BMJ Open 2​ 018;​8​:e021948. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-021948

Open access
aluation of clinical usefulness of assessment tools ​For an
The content will be compared through essment tool that measures a health phenom- enon based on
meetings between the two reviewers. Divergence of self-report of adult patients to be adopted by health
opinion will be resolved by a third reviewer to extractofessionals, it needs to be analysed with regard to its
complete informa- tion from all manuscripts. A studyerpretability and viability, which are factors that could
selection file will be kept to record the references for allfluence the decision-making of health professionals in clinical
studies excluded and the reasons for exclusion. A flowactice.​17 ​Therefore, the systematic review article will include an
chart will be created showing the article selection
aluation of these assessment tools based on the criteria
process. All relevant data from the studies will be
oposed by Tyson and Brown​18 ​listed below:
summarised in tables.
​Total time required for the administration, analysis and
erpretation of the data obtained using the assessment tool: <10
Appraisal of the psychometric properties of the selected
n (3 points); 10–30 min (2 points); 30–60 min (1 point); >1
instruments ​The COSMIN checklist will be used for the
ur (0 point).
appraisal of the psychometric properties of the selected
Cost involved in the acquisition and use of the assess- ment
instruments. This checklist has four domains: reliability, validity,
ol: <£100 (3 points); £100–500 (2 points); £500–1000 (1 point);
responsiveness and interpretability.​13–16
000 (0 point).
► ​Need for training and calibration for use of the assess- ment review article will follow the guidelines of the PRISMA
tool: none (2 points); yes, but simple and clin- ically viable (1 and will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. This
point); yes and not clinically viable/ unknown (0 point). protocol and the proposed systematic review are
► ​Portability of the tool (can it be taken to the patient?): yes, activities related to the obtainment of the main
easily (fits in pocket) (2 points); yes (fits in a carrying case) (1 researcher’s doctoral degree, and her doctoral theses
point); no or very difficult (0 point). fulfilled all these ethical issues.

► ​Accessibility of the tool (are detailed instructions for use

available?): yes (complete operating procedure/ instruction Author affiliations ​1​Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,

manual can be obtained in the article or site) (2 points); no, but Federal University of Pernambuco, UFPE, Recife,
​ Pernambuco,
the operation can be performed simply based on the description in
Brazil ​2​Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Federal
the article (1 point); no available instructions for use (0 point).
University of Pernambuco, UFPE, Recife,
​ Pernambuco, Brazil
data synthesis ​The systematic review report will be drafted in
3​
Polytechnic School of Pernambuco, University of Pernambuco,
accordance with the PRISMA recommendations,​11 ​and the
certainty of the evidence will be analysed using the Grading of UPE, Recife, Pernambuco,
​ Brazil ​4​Neuropsychiatry and

Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evalua- tion.​19 Behavioral Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, UFPE,
For the proposed review, assessment tools with the following
Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil ​5​Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral
qualities will be considered adequate:
► ​Those with a score of 10 or more points on the Clin- Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, UFPE, Recife,
​
ical Usefulness Evaluation Scale proposed by Tyson and Pernambuco, Brazil ​6​Nursing in Public Health, Federal
Brown.​18
University of Paraiba, UFPB, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
​
EthICs And dIssEMInAtIOn ​The general aim of the
Contributors ​All authors made substantial contributions to the
review is to provide a discussion on the strong points
conception and design of the study and participated in the
and limitations of different assessment tools used for drafting of the submission request. SRG, TdPSdS and SCV
measuring the risk of behaviour suggestive of opioid conceived of the study, developed the criteria, performed the
abuse through an analysis of the general charac- literature search and selection of the studies, and wrote the
teristics, psychometric properties and clinical usefulness present systematic review protocol study. MHdNM, CEdSLR
and MDdCL served as advisers throughout all phases of this
of the measures, as well as the methodological quality of
systematic review protocol study and performed a critical
the studies included in the review. This is expected to revision of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the
assist health professionals in determining what measures final version.
are more appropriate based on the characteristics of their
Funding ​This research received no specific grant from any funding
patients, as well as assist in decision-making processesagency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
and determining the most adequate care management for
Competing interests
patients with chronic non-cancer pain. The use of valid None declared.
and reliable instruments is fundamental to the reliability
Patient consent ​Not required.
of the evidence produced on a health phenomenon.​20
Provenance and peer review ​Not commissioned; externally peer
In conclusion, the proposed systematic review
reviewed.
will provide relevant clinical evidence on the assessment
► ​Those with a methodology considered ‘good’
tools designed for measuring the risk of behaviour
or ‘excellent’ based on the COSMIN
suggestive of opioid abuse that health professionals can
checklist.​13–16
use in the clinical management of patients with chronic
Open access ​This is an open access article distributed in
non-cancer pain. accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non
The report on the methods for the systematic Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which

3 ​Galindo SR, ​et al​. ​BMJ Open 2​ 018;​8​:e021948. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-021948

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