Opioid use following spinal cord injury: a qualitative study of the perspectives of healthcare providers and people with lived experience

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Published 30th September 2026

Purpose
This qualitative study sought to understand opioid use following spinal cord injury (SCI) and identify capacity for improving patient safety from the perspective of people with lived experience and healthcare providers (HCPs).

Materials and methods
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 participants (14 HCPs; 9 people with SCI) from January to September 2025, using interpretive description. Participants included prescribing and non-prescribing clinicians; and people who had used opioids post-SCI.

Results
Three themes were identified. First, understanding the person and their pain, recognised individual experiences of pain; tensions between opioid harms and benefits; and the need for appropriate assessment and management. The second theme, optimising versus impeding opioid management in the hospital setting, identified competing clinical priorities for physicians and the normalisation of opioid use in acute care. The third theme, being out there on their own, described how limited follow-up, reduced access to specialist and non-pharmacological pain supports, and the burden of complex care falling to general practitioners could contribute to a continued reliance on opioids in the community setting.

Conclusions

Practical recommendations generated from findings included involving pharmacy in hospital-based opioid stewardship approaches; enhancing resources for HCPs and people with SCI; and building supports for general practitioners.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

Opioid use is normalised in acute care following a spinal cord injury which creates a cascading effect of overreliance on opioids that can progress into inpatient rehabilitation and community settings.
The current healthcare system design in Australia can impede comprehensive pain management for this complex clinical cohort.
General practitioners are often burdened with the responsibility of care in the community, despite limited time and availability of specialist support or advice.
Clinicians should understand each person’s pain needs, provide clear education about opioid use and weaning, and support access to a range of pain management options.

Citation

Borg, S. J., Geraghty, T., Cameron, C. M., Luetsch, K., McCreanor, V., McPhail, S. M., & Tyack, Z. (2026). Opioid use following spinal cord injury: a qualitative study of the perspectives of healthcare providers and people with lived experience. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2026.2734241

Authors

Tim Geraghty

Professor and Director

Samantha Borg

PhD