Our aim is to develop a Framework of Measurement for people living with Long COVID and their caregivers for use in Long COVID research and clinical practice. Specifically, we will characterise evidence pertaining to outcome measurement and identify implementation considerations for use of outcome measures among adults and children living with Long COVID and their caregivers.

We will conduct a scoping study involving: (1) an evidence review and (2) a two-phased consultation, using methodological steps outlined by the Arksey and O’Malley Framework and Joanna Briggs Institute. We will answer the following question: What is known about outcome measures used to describe, evaluate or predict health outcomes among adults and children living with Long COVID and their caregivers? Evidence review: we will review peer review published and grey literature to identify existing outcome measures and their reported measurement properties with people living with Long COVID and their caregivers. We will search databases including MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Scopus for articles published since 2020. Two authors will independently review titles and abstracts, followed by full text to select articles that discuss or use outcome measures for Long COVID health outcomes, pertain to adults or children living with Long COVID and/or their caregivers and are based in research or clinical settings. We will extract data including article characteristics, terminology and definition of Long COVID, health outcomes assessed, characteristics of outcome measures, measurement properties and implementation considerations. We will collate and summarise data to establish a preliminary Framework of Measurement. Consultation phase 1: we will conduct an environmental scan involving a cross-sectional web-based questionnaire among individuals with experience using or completing outcome measures for Long COVID, to identify outcome measures not found in the evidence review and explore implementation considerations for outcome measurement in the context of Long COVID. Consultation phase 2: we will conduct focus groups to review the preliminary Framework of Measurement and to highlight implementation considerations for outcome measurement in Long COVID. We will analyse questionnaire and focus group data using descriptive and content analytical approaches. We will refine the Framework of Measurement based on the focus group consultation using community-engaged approaches with the research team.

Protocol approved by the University of Toronto Health Sciences Research Ethics Board (protocol #46503) for the consultation phases of the study. Outcomes will include a Framework of Measurement, to enhance measurement of health outcomes in Long COVID research and clinical practice. Knowledge translation will also occur in the form of publications and presentations.

Acute pain is commonly experienced by millions of patients who undergo outpatient surgical procedures. Moreover, an increasing number of procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, requiring greater postoperative planning to ensure effective pain management. Analgesic approaches commonly involve prescription opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but an optimal regimen that balances pain and adverse effects has not been identified. In addition, critical gaps in evidence exist regarding how opioids and NSAIDs compare as analgesic regimens after surgery.

The Comparing Analgesic Regimen Effectiveness and Safety after Surgery (CARES) trial is a pragmatic, international, multicentre randomised trial that enrols adults undergoing three elective surgical procedures (laparoscopic cholecystectomy, breast lumpectomy, hernia repair). Participants are randomised to receive discharge analgesic prescriptions that consist of either NSAIDs or low-dose opioids (ie, 10 pills of oxycodone 5 mg or equivalent), with both groups prescribed acetaminophen around-the-clock. The primary effectiveness outcome is patient-reported worst daily pain intensity over the first 7 days after surgery. The primary safety outcome is the occurrence of opioid and/or NSAID side effects over the first 7 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes are assessed by patient report and medical record review at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after surgery and include sleep disturbance, patient perception of improvement/change after treatment, pain interference, anxiety, depression, health-related quality of life, clinically important adverse events, substance use, opioid misuse, chronic pain, healthcare utilisation related to pain and quality of recovery.

Investigational review boards at the University of Michigan and other sites have approved the CARES trial. The first patient enrolled in CARES in February 2023, with recruitment anticipated through 2026. Dissemination builds on the input of patient partners and other members of an engaged Stakeholder Advisory Board, with activities spanning co-production of summaries to share results with study participants, publications in biomedical journals and lay press, presentations to scientific and community organisations, and other multimedia communication materials.

NCT05722002.