Technology-Driven Decision Support for Opioid Tapering: A Scoping Review

General practitioners manage most opioid tapering. This process requires time-consuming, individualised planning accounting for patient preferences, dose options and costs. Consequently, clinicians need tools to support tapering. This review explores existing international digital decision support systems for opioid tapering.

We conducted a scoping review following the JBI methodology. Five databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane and Web of Science) were searched in January 2026. Title/abstract and full-text screening were performed independently by two reviewers based on predefined eligibility criteria. Disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer. Data were extracted and summarised both descriptively and narratively.

The search identified 2340 studies, of which four met the eligibility criteria. The studies included described four different technology-driven decision support tools for opioid tapering. The tools varied in format and clinical context (primary and secondary care), but they all aimed to support clinicians in planning and managing opioid tapering. Evidence on clinical effectiveness and real-world implementation was limited across the studies.

Only few studies have investigated technology-driven decision support for opioid tapering, and only one is set within a European context. While tools exist in different formats and clinical settings, evidence on their effectiveness and real-world implementation remains limited, highlighting a need for further development and evaluation.