Erin K Biringen1, Emily Cox-Martin2, Sierra Niemiec3, Cheyret Wood3, W Thomas Purcell4, Elissa Kolva4. 1. University of Colorado School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA. erin.biringen@cuanschutz.edu. 2. VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA. 3. Center for Innovative Design and Analysis, Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA. 4. University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Psychological distress is common in patients with cancer, and oncology providers are often tasked with utilizing psychotropic medications to treat such symptoms. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to characterize how oncology providers prescribe psychotropic medications and to assess their comfort level with prescribing these medications. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was sent to oncology medical doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who prescribe psychotropic medications to patients with cancer at a large academic medical center in the Mountain West. The survey included questions regarding provider subspecialty, degree, comfort with prescribing psychotropic medications, and factors that informed their prescribing. RESULTS: Oncology providers (n = 65) reported equal proportions of comfort and discomfort with prescribing psychotropic medications. The medication class with the most prescribers was benzodiazepines, with 89.2% (n = 58) of the respondents prescribing those medications. The least prescribed category was mood stabilizers, with 4.6% (n = 3) prescribing this category. Prescribers identified that barriers to their comfort included difficulty connecting patients to follow-up care with mental health professionals and inadequate mental health education for providers. Providers responded that continuing mental health education and increasing patient access to mental health resources would increase their prescribing comfort. CONCLUSION: Providers reported equal parts comfort and discomfort with prescribing psychotropic medications; avenues to increase comfort should involve focused mental health education during formal training and continued education throughout their oncology careers. A clinical pathway for prescribing psychotropic medications with resources to connect patients to long-term mental health care may also increase prescribing comfort.
CONTEXT: Psychological distress is common in patients with cancer, and oncology providers are often tasked with utilizing psychotropic medications to treat such symptoms. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to characterize how oncology providers prescribe psychotropic medications and to assess their comfort level with prescribing these medications. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was sent to oncology medical doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who prescribe psychotropic medications to patients with cancer at a large academic medical center in the Mountain West. The survey included questions regarding provider subspecialty, degree, comfort with prescribing psychotropic medications, and factors that informed their prescribing. RESULTS: Oncology providers (n = 65) reported equal proportions of comfort and discomfort with prescribing psychotropic medications. The medication class with the most prescribers was benzodiazepines, with 89.2% (n = 58) of the respondents prescribing those medications. The least prescribed category was mood stabilizers, with 4.6% (n = 3) prescribing this category. Prescribers identified that barriers to their comfort included difficulty connecting patients to follow-up care with mental health professionals and inadequate mental health education for providers. Providers responded that continuing mental health education and increasing patient access to mental health resources would increase their prescribing comfort. CONCLUSION: Providers reported equal parts comfort and discomfort with prescribing psychotropic medications; avenues to increase comfort should involve focused mental health education during formal training and continued education throughout their oncology careers. A clinical pathway for prescribing psychotropic medications with resources to connect patients to long-term mental health care may also increase prescribing comfort.