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Padamsee TJ, Montgomery C, Kienzle S, Straughn JB, Elmore A, Fulton-Kehoe DL, Schulman B, Wickizer TM, Franklin GM. Impacts of State-Level Opioid Review Programs on Injured Workers and Their Health Care Providers: A Qualitative Study in Washington and Ohio. Milbank Q 2024. [PMID: 38861655 DOI: 10.1111/1468-0009.12705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Policy Points Workers' compensation agencies have instituted opioid review policies to reduce unsafe prescribing. Providers reported more limited and cautious prescribing than in the past; both patients and providers reported collaborative pain-management relationships and satisfactory pain control for patients. Despite the fears articulated by pharmaceutical companies and patient advocates, opioid review programs have not generally resulted in unmanaged pain or reduced function in patients, anger or resistance from patients or providers, or damage to patient-provider relationships or clinical autonomy. Other insurance providers with broad physician networks may want to consider similar quality-improvement efforts to support safe opioid prescribing. CONTEXT Unsafe prescribing practices have been among the central causes of improper reception of opioids, unsafe use, and overdose in the United States. Workers' compensation agencies in Washington and Ohio have implemented opioid review programs (ORPs)-a form of quality improvement based on utilization review-to curb unsafe prescribing. Evidence suggests that such regulations indeed reduce unsafe prescribing, but pharmaceutical companies and patient advocates have raised concerns about negative impacts that could also result. This study explores whether three core sets of problems have actually come to pass: (1) unmanaged pain or reduced function among patients, (2) anger or resistance to ORPs from patients or providers, and (3) damage to patient-provider relationships or clinical autonomy. METHODS In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with 48 patients (21 from Washington, 27 from Ohio) and 32 providers (18 from Washington, 14 from Ohio) who were purposively sampled to represent a range of injury and practice types. Thematic coding was conducted with codebooks developed using both inductive and deductive approaches. FINDINGS The consequences of opioid regulations have been generally positive: providers report more limited prescribing and a focus on multimodal pain control; patients report satisfactory pain control and recovery alongside collaborative relationships with providers. Participants attribute these patterns to a broad environment of opioid caution; they do not generally perceive workers' compensation policies as distinctly impactful. Both patients and providers comment frequently on the difficult aspects of interacting with workers' compensation agencies; effects of these range from simple inconvenience to delays in care, unmanaged pain, and reduced potential for physical recovery. CONCLUSIONS In general, the three types of feared negative impacts have not come to pass for either patients or providers. Although interacting with workers' compensation agencies involves difficulties typical of interacting with other insurers, opioid controls seem to have generally positive effects and are generally perceived of favorably.
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Meghani SH, Quinn R, Robinson A, Chittams J, Vapiwala N, Naylor M, Cheatle M, Knafl GJ. Trajectories and predictors of high-occurrence pain flares in ambulatory cancer patients on opioids. JNCI Cancer Spectr 2024; 8:pkae003. [PMID: 38268502 PMCID: PMC10880071 DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pkae003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pain flares have a substantive impact on the quality of life and well-being of patients with cancer. We identified longitudinal trajectories (clusters) of cancer pain flares in ambulatory patients and sociodemographic and clinical predictors of these trajectories. METHODS In a prospective cohort study using ecological momentary assessment (mEMA), we collected patient-reported daily pain flare ratings data over 5 months and identified predictors and correlates using validated measures. RESULTS The mean age of the sample (N = 270) was 60.9 years (SD = 11.2), 64.8% were female, and 32.6% self-identified as African American. Four pain flare clusters were identified. The "high-occurrence" cluster (23% of patients) experienced 5.5 (SD = 5.47) daily flares, whereas low-moderate clusters (77%) reported 2.4 (SD = 2.74) daily flares (P < .000). Those in the high-occurrence cluster reported higher pain scores (P = .000), increased pain-related interference (P = .000), depressive symptoms (P = .023), lower quality of life (P = .001), and reduced pain self-efficacy (P = .006). Notably, 67.2% of those prescribed opioids as needed (PRN only) were in the high-occurrence pain flare cluster, compared with 27.9% with PRN and around-the-clock opioid prescriptions (P = .024). Individual predictors of high-occurrence pain flares were income below $30 000, unemployment, being African American, lower education level, Medicaid insurance, current opioid misuse (COMM), baseline inpatient hospital stay duration, and PRN-only opioid regimen. In the multiple predictor model, lower education level, unemployment, COMM score, extended inpatient duration, and PRN-only opioid regimen remained significant. CONCLUSION In ambulatory patients with cancer, high occurrence of pain flares may be mitigated by attention to opioid prescription factors and addressing social determinants of health needs of underserved patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salimah H Meghani
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences; NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ryan Quinn
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences; NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrew Robinson
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences; NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jesse Chittams
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences; NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Neha Vapiwala
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mary Naylor
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences; NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Martin Cheatle
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - George J Knafl
- School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Horn ME, Simon CB, Lee HJ, Eucker SA. Associations Between Management Pathway and Opioid Prescriptions for Patients Entering the Emergency Department With Neck and Back Pain. Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes 2023; 7:490-498. [PMID: 37842687 PMCID: PMC10568062 DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2023.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To determine associations between post-emergency department (ED) management pathways and downstream opioid prescriptions in patients seeking care for incident neck and/or back pain. Patients and Methods We identified patients seeking first-time ED care for neck and/or back pain from January 1, 2013, through November 6, 2017. We reported demographic characteristics and opioid prescriptions across management pathways using descriptive statistics and assessed the relative risk of any opioid prescription 12 months post-ED visit among 5 different post-ED management pathways using Poisson regression adjusted for patient demographic characteristics. Results Within 12 months after the index ED visit, 58.0% (n=10,949) were prescribed an opioid, with most patients prescribed an opioid within the first week (average daily morphine milligram equivalents of 6.8 mg (SD 9.6 mg). The morphine milligram equivalents decreased to 0.7 mg (SD 8.2 mg) by week 4 and remained consistently less than 1 mg between week 4 and 12 months. Compared with the ED to primary care provider pathway, the relative risk of opioid prescription between 7 days and 12 months after the index ED visit was similar for the ED to physical therapy pathway, higher for both the ED to hospital admission or repeat ED visit pathway (30% increase; relative risk (RR), 1.3; 95% CI, 1.17-1.44) and the ED to specialist pathway (19% increase; RR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.07-1.33), and lower in the ED with no follow-up visits pathway (41% decrease; RR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.54-0.65). Conclusion In general, more conservative care was associated with lower opioid prescription rates, and escalated care was associated with higher opioid prescription rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie E. Horn
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Physical Therapy, Duke University, Durham, NC
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Corey B. Simon
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Physical Therapy, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Hui-Jie Lee
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC
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Lin DY, Samson AJ, D'Mello F, Brown B, Cehic MG, Wilson C, Kroon HM, Jaarsma RL. A multi-disciplinary program for opioid sparse arthroplasty results in reduced long-term opioid consumption: a four year prospective study. BMC Anesthesiol 2023; 23:97. [PMID: 36991313 PMCID: PMC10050824 DOI: 10.1186/s12871-023-02062-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The current opioid epidemic poses patient safety and economic burdens to healthcare systems worldwide. Postoperative prescriptions of opioids contribute, with reported opioid prescription rates following arthroplasty as high as 89%. In this multi-centre prospective study, an opioid sparing protocol was implemented for patients undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty. The primary outcome is to report our patient outcomes in the context of this protocol, and to examine the rate of opioid prescription on discharge from our hospitals following joint arthroplasty surgery. This is possibly associated with the efficacy of the newly implemented Arthroplasty Patient Care Protocol. METHODS Over three years, patients underwent perioperative education with the expectation to be opioid-free after surgery. Intraoperative regional analgesia, early postoperative mobilisation and multimodal analgesia were mandatory. Long-term opioid medication use was monitored and PROMs (Oxford Knee/Hip Score (OKS/OHS), EQ-5D-5 L) were evaluated pre-operatively, and at 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year postoperatively. Primary and secondary outcomes were opiate use and PROMs at different time points. RESULTS A total of 1,444 patients participated. Two (0.2%) knee patients used opioids to one year. Zero hip patients used opioids postoperatively at any time point after six weeks (p < 0.0001). The OKS and EQ-5D-5 L both improved for knee patients from 16 (12-22) pre-operatively to 35 (27-43) at 1 year postoperatively, and 70 (60-80) preoperatively to 80 (70-90) at 1 year postoperatively (p < 0.0001). The OHS and EQ-5D-5 L both improved for hip patients from 12 (8-19) preoperatively to 44 (36-47) at 1 year postoperatively, and 65 (50-75) preoperatively to 85 (75-90) at 1 year postoperatively (p < 0.0001). Satisfaction improved between all pre- and postoperative time points for both knee and hip patients (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Knee and hip arthroplasty patients receiving a peri-operative education program can effectively and satisfactorily be managed without long-term opioids when coupled with multimodal perioperative management, making this a valuable approach to reduce chronic opioid use.
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Affiliation(s)
- D-Yin Lin
- Department of Anaesthesia, Flinders Medical Centre, Flinders Drive Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia.
- Discipline of Perioperative Medicine, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
| | - Anthony J Samson
- Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Freeda D'Mello
- Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Brigid Brown
- Department of Anaesthesia, Flinders Medical Centre, Flinders Drive Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia
| | - Matthew G Cehic
- Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Christopher Wilson
- Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Hidde M Kroon
- Department of Surgery, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Discipline of Surgery, Adelaide Medical School Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Ruurd L Jaarsma
- Discipline of Perioperative Medicine, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Invited Commentary: Are Statewide Policy Changes Enough to Curb the Opioid Epidemic? J Am Coll Surg 2022; 235:528-529. [PMID: 35972174 DOI: 10.1097/xcs.0000000000000283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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