1
|
Ashare RL, Worster B, Nugent SM, Smith DM, Morasco BJ, Leader AE, Case AA, Meghani SH. Cannabis and opioid perceptions, co-use, and substitution among patients across 4 NCI-Designated Cancer Centers. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 2024; 2024:267-274. [PMID: 39108237 PMCID: PMC11303867 DOI: 10.1093/jncimonographs/lgad027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Prescription opioids are used for managing pain in persons with cancer, however, there are socioeconomic and racial disparities in medication access. Cannabis is increasingly used for cancer symptom management and as an opioid alternative. Limited data are available about patterns of opioid and cannabis use among patients with cancer. We used survey data from 4 National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers in 3 states (n = 1220) to assess perceptions, use of cannabis and opioids for pain, their substitution, and racial and ethnic differences in each outcome. Compared with White patients, Black patients were less likely to use opioids for pain (odds ratio [OR] = 0.66; P = .035) and more likely to report that cannabis was more effective than opioids (OR = 2.46; P = .03). Race effects were mitigated (P > .05) after controlling for socioeconomic factors. Further research is needed to understand cannabis and opioid use patterns and how overlapping social determinants of health create a disadvantage in cancer symptom management for Black patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Ashare
- Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Brooke Worster
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shannon M Nugent
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Danielle M Smith
- Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin J Morasco
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Amy E Leader
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amy A Case
- Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Salimah H Meghani
- Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health, Leonard Davis Institute for Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Knoerl R, Berry D, Meyerhardt JA, Reyes K, Salehi E, Thornton K, Gewandter JS. Identifying participants' preferences for modifiable chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy prevention clinical trial factors: an adaptive choice-based conjoint analysis. Support Care Cancer 2022; 30:9963-9973. [PMID: 36355216 PMCID: PMC9648439 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-022-07447-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE There are no recommended treatments for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) prevention. Recruitment to CIPN prevention clinical trials is challenging because it is difficult to enroll patients between the time of cancer diagnosis and the initiation of neurotoxic chemotherapy. The purpose of this exploratory-sequential mixed-methods study was to determine patients' preferences that could affect the choice to participate in CIPN prevention clinical trials. METHODS First, twenty cognitive interviews were conducted with adults who completed less than three neurotoxic chemotherapy infusions to clarify clinical trial attributes and levels thought to be important to patients when deciding whether to enroll in CIPN prevention trials (i.e., type of treatment, clinical tests, reimbursement, survey delivery; length of visits, timing of follow-up, when to begin treatment). Second, another eighty-eight patients completed an adaptive choice-based conjoint analysis survey that incorporated the finalized attributes and levels. Each level was assigned a part-worth utility score using Hierarchical Bayes Estimation. The relative importance of each attribute was calculated. RESULTS The attributes with the highest relative importance values were type of treatment (27.1%) and length of study visits (20.2%). The preferred levels included non-medicine treatment (53.49%), beginning treatment after experiencing CIPN (60.47%), email surveys (63.95%), assessments that include surveys and clinical exams (39.53%), under 30-min visits (44.19%), $50/week reimbursement (39.53%), and 1-month post-chemotherapy follow-up visits (32.56%). CONCLUSIONS Patients' preferences for participation may be included in the design of future CIPN prevention clinical trials to potentially bolster study enrollment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Knoerl
- Phyllis F. Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care Services, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave LW518, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
- Present Address: University of Michigan School of Nursing, 400 North Ingalls St, Office 2350;, MI, 48109, Ann Arbor, USA.
| | - Donna Berry
- Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | | | - Kaitlen Reyes
- Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Elahe Salehi
- Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Katherine Thornton
- Medical Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer S Gewandter
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Meghani SH, Persico AL, Fudin J, Knafl GJ. Gaps in the Use of Long-Acting Opioids Within Intervals of Consecutive Days Among Cancer Outpatients Using Electronic Pill Caps. PAIN MEDICINE 2021; 22:687-693. [PMID: 32935134 DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnaa273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study describes individual cancer patients' nonuse of extended-release or long-acting (ER/LA) opioids, including periods of gap between opioid doses taken. DESIGN Secondary analysis of a three-month observational study of prescribed ER/LA opioids monitored using electronic pill caps. SETTING Two outpatient oncology clinics of a large health system in the Mid-Atlantic region. PARTICIPANTS Inclusion was based on self-identified African Americans and whites, at least 18 years old, diagnosed with solid tumors or multiple myeloma. For the current analysis, the additional inclusion criterion was prescription of an oral ER/LA opioid for cancer pain to be taken around the clock. METHODS The electronic monitoring period for each study participant was partitioned into intervals of days between days with one or more openings (using medication event monitoring systems) representing rates of ER/LA opioid nonuse over consecutive days and over time. RESULTS Of the sample (N = 109), two-thirds of the cancer patients had some nonuse of prescribed ER/LA opioids, with one in four having nonuse during 31.5-87.5% of their electronic-monitoring periods. Nonuse over periods of five or more, six or more, and seven or more consecutive days occurred for 37.6%, 34.9%, and 30.3% of the participants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS About one in three ambulatory cancer patients in this study had substantial gaps between days of ER/LA opioid use, potentially resulting in risk of overdose depending upon the prescribed ER/LA opioid type, dose, and length of the time the opioid was stopped and resumed at the previous dose. This phenomenon has received little to no attention in the opioid safety discourse.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Salimah H Meghani
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences; New Courtland Center for Transitions and Health; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey Fudin
- Samuel S. Stratton Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Albany, New York, USA.,Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, New York, USA.,Western New England University, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA.,Remitigate Therapeutics, Delmar, New York, USA
| | - George J Knafl
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rosa WE, Riegel B, Ulrich CM, Chittams J, Quinn R, Meghani SH. The Association Between Analgesic Treatment Beliefs and Electronically Monitored Adherence for Cancer Pain. Oncol Nurs Forum 2021; 48:45-58. [PMID: 33337438 DOI: 10.1188/21.onf.45-58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine whether clusters based on analgesic treatment beliefs among patients with cancer predict objective analgesic adherence. SAMPLE & SETTING 207 patients with cancer in the outpatient setting who were aged 18 years or older, self-identified as White or African American, were diagnosed with solid tumor or multiple myeloma, and were prescribed at least one around-the-clock analgesic prescription for reported cancer pain. METHODS & VARIABLES This study is a secondary analysis of an existing dataset. General linear modeling with a backward elimination approach was applied to determine whether previously identified analgesic treatment belief clusters, as well as sociodemographic, clinical, and pain variables, were associated with adherence behaviors. RESULTS Significant explanatory factors were experiential in nature and included sociodemographic, clinical, and pain-related variables, explaining 21% of the variance in analgesic adherence. Analgesic belief clusters were not predictive of adherence. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Future research should examine sociodemographic and other clinical factors, as well as the influence of analgesic treatment beliefs, to better understand adherence behaviors among patients with cancer.
Collapse
|
5
|
Brooks JV, Poague C, Formagini T, Roberts AW, Sinclair CT, Keirns CC. Palliative Care's Role Managing Cancer Pain During the Opioid Crisis: A Qualitative Study of Patients, Caregivers, and Clinicians. J Pain Symptom Manage 2020; 60:1127-1135.e2. [PMID: 32645454 PMCID: PMC7680449 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.06.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Patients with cancer face symptoms because of disease and treatment, and pain is common and complex. The opioid crisis may complicate patients' and clinicians' experiences of managing pain in cancer care. OBJECTIVES In our study of perceptions and experiences with palliative care (PC) at an outpatient cancer center, we examined communication around symptom management throughout cancer care, and pain and its management emerged as particularly salient. The objective of this article is to describe, from the perspectives of patients, caregivers, and oncology health care professionals, the role of PC in navigating the complicated dynamics of pain management amidst the opioid crisis. METHODS A qualitative descriptive study with grounded theory components was designed to investigate experiences with and perceptions of specialist PC and symptom management, including pain. Interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed, and focused coding identified themes related to pain and pain management from all three perspectives. RESULTS About 44 patients, caregivers, and non-PC health care professionals completed interviews. Patients with cancer and their caregivers had many concerns about pain management and were specifically concerned about opioid use and stigma. For patients, PC improved pain management and helped to destigmatize appropriate pain management. Oncology clinicians reported that partnering with PC facilitated complex pain management and also provided moral support around difficult opioid recommendations for patients. CONCLUSION PC offers the potential to uniquely support both patients and other oncology professionals in optimally navigating the complexity around pain management for cancer care in the midst of the opioid crisis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Veazey Brooks
- Department of Population Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA; University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.
| | - Claire Poague
- Department of Population Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Taynara Formagini
- Department of Population Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Andrew W Roberts
- Department of Population Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA; University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Christian T Sinclair
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA; Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Carla C Keirns
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA; Department of History and Philosophy of Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wegier P, Varenbut J, Bernstein M, Lawlor PG, Isenberg SR. "No thanks, I don't want to see snakes again": a qualitative study of pain management versus preservation of cognition in palliative care patients. BMC Palliat Care 2020; 19:182. [PMID: 33250047 PMCID: PMC7702681 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-020-00683-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Towards the end of life, use of opioid analgesics becomes more common in patients to control pain and improve quality of life. While pain medication may help manage pain, unwanted cognitive side effects are frequently noted. This balancing act presents a trade-off for patients between pain relief and adverse effects, where the desire to relieve pain must be evaluated against the desire to maintain cognitive clarity and may represent a difficult decision for patients receiving palliative care. Our goal was to understand how patients' decision making about pain medications balances the pain relief from those medications against the cognitive decline often associated with them. METHODS We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with patients receiving home-based palliative care from a program in Toronto, Canada. Interview recordings were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS Thirty-one interviews were conducted. Some patients preferred cognitive preservation over pain management because of a sense that cognition is central to their identity, the desire to maintain lucidity, a desire to continue participating in work or hobbies, and fear of addiction. Conversely, some patients preferred pain management over cognitive preservation because of a desire to avoid suffering, an inability to sleep without medications, or an acceptance of some cognitive compromise. A few patients attempted to find balance through tapering drugs, limiting their use of breakthrough analgesic doses, or using alternative strategies. CONCLUSIONS Decision making around pain and pain management is a highly preference-sensitive process-with no clear right or wrong decisions, only the preferences of each patient. The findings from this study may influence the design of future patient-facing decision aids around pain management. Future studies should pilot interventions to better assist patients with this decision.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pete Wegier
- Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. .,Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. .,Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Jaymie Varenbut
- Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark Bernstein
- Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter G Lawlor
- Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sarina R Isenberg
- Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rosa WE, Chittams J, Riegel B, Ulrich CM, Meghani SH. Patient Trade-Offs Related to Analgesic Use for Cancer Pain: A MaxDiff Analysis Study. Pain Manag Nurs 2020; 21:245-254. [PMID: 31648906 PMCID: PMC7170763 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmn.2019.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Many patients with cancer pain deviate from prescribed analgesic regimens. Our aim was to elicit the trade-offs patients make based on their beliefs about analgesic use and rank utilities (importance scores) using maximum difference (MaxDiff) scaling. We also investigated if there were unique clusters of patients based on their analgesic beliefs. METHODS This was a secondary analysis of a three-month, prospective observational study. Patients (N = 207) were self-identified African Americans and Whites, >18 years, diagnosed with multiple myeloma or solid tumor, and were prescribed at least one around-the-clock analgesic for cancer pain. MaxDiff analysis allowed us to identify patients utilities. Second, a cluster analysis assisted in ranking how analgesic beliefs differed by groups. Third, clusters were described by comparing key sociodemographic and clinical variables. RESULTS Participants' beliefs were a significant factor in choices related to analgesic use (chi-square = 498.145, p < .0001). The belief, 'Pain meds keep you from knowing what is going on in your body', had the highest patient endorsement. Two distinct clusters of patients based on analgesic beliefs were identified; 'knowing body' was ranked as top priority for both clusters. The belief that cancer patients become addicted to analgesics was moderately important for both clusters. Severity of side effects was the only key variable significantly different between clusters (p = .043). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support tailored pain management interventions that attend to individual beliefs about cancer pain and analgesic use. Future research should explore the relationship between analgesic utilities, actual analgesic taking behaviors, and how they impact patients' cancer pain outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William E Rosa
- University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Jesse Chittams
- BECCA Lab, Office of Nursing Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Barbara Riegel
- University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Connie M Ulrich
- University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Salimah H Meghani
- University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Rosa WE, Riegel B, Ulrich CM, Meghani SH. A concept analysis of analgesic nonadherence for cancer pain in a time of opioid crisis. Nurs Outlook 2020; 68:83-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2019.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|