Impact of controlled-release oxycodone on efficacy beliefs and coping efforts among osteoarthritis patients with moderate to severe pain

Objectives: This study examines the impact of controlled-release oxycodone (OxyContin®) on cognitive-behavioral indicators of efficacy beliefs and coping efforts in patients with osteoarthritis who experience persistent pain. Methods: This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 104 male and female patients with osteoarthritis who experienced moderate to severe pain. Pain assessment, arthritis helplessness, and coping efforts were assessed before and after for treatment and placebo control groups. Results: Examination of differences between treatment and control groups after 2 weeks revealed significant reductions in reported pain, improvements in coping efficacy, and reductions in helplessness and passive coping in response to controlled-release oxycodone treatment compared to placebo. Changes in pain partially mediated the effects on coping in subsequent assessments. Discussion: The findings indicate that controlled-release oxycodone treatment accounted for improvements in coping with pain beyond that of placebo controls. This medication may be most beneficial to osteoarthritis patients when incorporated as part of a multidisciplinary approach to pain management.