Ease-of-care from the physical therapists' perspective comparing fentanyl iontophoretic transdermal system versus morphine intravenous patient-controlled analgesia in postoperative pain management.

AIM

To compare the ease-of-care (EOC) examining time efficiency, convenience and satisfaction of fentanyl iontophoretic transdermal system ([ITS] IONSYS) and morphine intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (iv. PCA) in postoperative pain management using a validated physical therapist (PT) EOC questionnaire.

MATERIALS & METHODS: This meta-analysis assessed EOC of fentanyl ITS versus morphine iv. PCA using data from two randomized, active-comparator studies (fentanyl ITS: n = 720 and morphine iv. PCA: n = 739) which used the PT EOC questionnaire (22 items grouped into three subscales; time efficiency, convenience and satisfaction). Each item was scored on a 6-point Likert scale. For time efficiency, PT whose average scores were ≤2 on all items of the time efficiency and convenience subscales or ≥4 on both satisfaction items were considered responders.

RESULTS

There were EOC questionnaires from 264 (fentanyl ITS) and 254 (morphine iv. PCA) PTs. There were significantly greater proportions of PTs classified as responders for fentanyl ITS than morphine iv. PCA for overall EOC (81.0 vs 55.7%, respectively), time efficiency (83.1 vs 59.5%, respectively), convenience (87.4 vs 72.0%, respectively) and satisfaction (51.9 vs 30.0%, respectively), all p < 0.0001.

CONCLUSION

In this meta-analysis, fentanyl ITS is associated with a superior EOC profile (overall, time efficiency, convenience and satisfaction) from the PTs' perspective when compared with morphine iv. PCA.