Jessica S Merlin1, Kanan Patel2, Nicole Thompson2, Jennifer Kapo3, Frank Keefe4, Jane Liebschutz5, Judith Paice6, Tamara Somers4, Joanna Starrels7, Julie Childers8, Yael Schenker8, Christine S Ritchie2. 1. Division of General Internal Medicine, Center for Research on Health Care, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Electronic address: merlinjs@pitt.edu. 2. Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, USA. 3. Palliative Medicine Program, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. 4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA. 5. Division of General Internal Medicine, Center for Research on Health Care, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. 6. Division Hematology-Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 7. Division of General Internal Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA. 8. Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Chronic pain, or pain lasting more than three months, is common among cancer survivors, who are often prescribed long-term opioid therapy (LTOT). OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to explore palliative care providers' experiences with managing chronic pain in cancer survivors prescribed LTOT, specifically in ambulatory palliative care settings, and their strategies for overcoming challenges. METHODS: We recruited providers through leading national palliative care organizations who manage chronic pain in cancer survivors. Asked to consider only cancer survivors with chronic pain when responding, participants completed an online survey that included questions about use of opioid risk mitigation tools, confidence in addressing opioid misuse behaviors and discussing/recommending management approaches, and access to addiction treatment. RESULTS: Of 157 participants, most were physicians (83%) or nurse practitioners (15%). Most reported using opioid risk mitigation tools such as urine drug testing (71%), opioid treatment agreements (85%), and practitioner database monitoring programs (94%). Participants were confident (7-8/10) managing the most commonly encountered opioid misuse behaviors (missing appointments, marijuana use, and using more opioids than prescribed) and in their ability to recommend nonpharmacologic and nonopioid pharmacologic treatments for chronic pain (10/10). They were least confident prescribing naloxone or managing addiction (5/10); only 27% reported having training or systems in place to address addiction. Only 13% had a waiver to prescribe buprenorphine. CONCLUSION: Palliative care providers are comfortable with many aspects of managing chronic pain in cancer survivors on LTOT, although challenges persist, including the lack of systems-based approaches and training in addiction treatment.
CONTEXT: Chronic pain, or pain lasting more than three months, is common among cancer survivors, who are often prescribed long-term opioid therapy (LTOT). OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to explore palliative care providers' experiences with managing chronic pain in cancer survivors prescribed LTOT, specifically in ambulatory palliative care settings, and their strategies for overcoming challenges. METHODS: We recruited providers through leading national palliative care organizations who manage chronic pain in cancer survivors. Asked to consider only cancer survivors with chronic pain when responding, participants completed an online survey that included questions about use of opioid risk mitigation tools, confidence in addressing opioid misuse behaviors and discussing/recommending management approaches, and access to addiction treatment. RESULTS: Of 157 participants, most were physicians (83%) or nurse practitioners (15%). Most reported using opioid risk mitigation tools such as urine drug testing (71%), opioid treatment agreements (85%), and practitioner database monitoring programs (94%). Participants were confident (7-8/10) managing the most commonly encountered opioid misuse behaviors (missing appointments, marijuana use, and using more opioids than prescribed) and in their ability to recommend nonpharmacologic and nonopioid pharmacologic treatments for chronic pain (10/10). They were least confident prescribing naloxone or managing addiction (5/10); only 27% reported having training or systems in place to address addiction. Only 13% had a waiver to prescribe buprenorphine. CONCLUSION: Palliative care providers are comfortable with many aspects of managing chronic pain in cancer survivors on LTOT, although challenges persist, including the lack of systems-based approaches and training in addiction treatment.
Authors: Robyn Keall; Paul Keall; Carly Kiani; Tim Luckett; Richard McNeill; Melanie Lovell Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2022-02-15 Impact factor: 3.359
Authors: Nicole Bates; Jennifer K Bello; Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters; Mark D Sullivan; Jeffrey F Scherrer Journal: Curr Treat Options Oncol Date: 2022-03-07