THE QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF ONCOLOGICAL PAIN MANAGEMENT CLINICAL TRIALS IN THE CONTEXT OF A LIMITED NUMBER OF META-ANALYSIS OF OPIOID FORMULATIONS

Treatment ofcancer painis mainly based on the use of opioidanalgesics.This study includes opioids commonly used in Polish clinical practice, such as: dihydrocodeine, tramadol, buprenorphine, morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone and methadone. The purpose of our research is performing a quality assessment of the available clinical trials concerning opioids efficacy and an evaluation of the cause of the limited quantity of systematic reviews in form of meta-analysis. The quality of methodology used in included trials was assessed by Jadad scale. The following databases was searched: Medline (PubMed), Cochrane Library and websites of agencies included in INAHTA (The International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment in Heath). A wide variety of drug dose, dosage forms, routs of administration and pain measuring scales resulted an impossibility of performing a meta-analysis comparing opioids in terms of their effectiveness. Collected studies were assessed for analgesic effect and side effects of opioids therapeutic use, refer to other drugs and depending on doses, frequency of administration, dosage forms (modified/immediate release). The analysis of safety was performed by evaluating the drug-related side effects that resulted an exclusion from the study and general adverse reactions associated with treatment