High Tech: Dean Uses Digital Tools to Research Alternatives to Opioids

Dean Cecile Feldman’s research on a promising alternative to opioids, funded by an $11.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), showcases the potential of digital technology to measure results and gather participant data. The long-term study, which began this year with a group of 350 subjects, explores a combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen as a substitute for the opioids so often prescribed by oral health providers to relieve acute pain. Its methodology relies almost entirely on electronic tools, from vials of medication that record participants’ self-administered doses, to text reminders and digital logs that patients use to record side effects. The amount of technology it employs sets it apart. “From what we’ve been hearing, there aren’t a lot of studies that are conducted as electronically as this one,’’ said the dean. “It allows us to have a lot of oversight, and it’s going very well.’’ Study participants are prescribed analgesics after molar extractions and are followed for up to seven days post-surgery to track their level of pain, self-dosages, and common opioid side effects, such as nausea and sleep quality. Ultimately, the study, which involves four other dental schools, will include 1800 participants and be completed by 2024.