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Physicians’ Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward Use of Opioids in Long‐Term Care Facilities
Author(s) -
Griffioen Charlotte,
Willems Eva G.,
Kouwenhoven Sanne M.,
Caljouw Monique A.A.,
Achterberg Wilco P.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
pain practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1533-2500
pISSN - 1530-7085
DOI - 10.1111/papr.12492
Subject(s) - medicine , medical prescription , addiction , family medicine , pain management , population , opioid , nursing , psychiatry , physical therapy , environmental health , receptor
Background Insufficient pain management in vulnerable older persons living in long‐term care facilities is common, and opiophobia might contribute to this. As opiophobia and its related factors have not been investigated in long‐term care, this study evaluates the degree of knowledge of opioids among elderly‐care physicians ( ECP s) and ECP trainees, as well as their attitudes and other factors possibly influencing the clinical use of opioids in these facilities. Methods A questionnaire was designed and distributed among ECP s and ECP trainees by email, regional symposia, and all three university training faculties for elderly‐care medicine in the Netherlands. Results Respondents were 324 ECP s and 111 ECP trainees. Fear of addiction did not influence the prescription of opioids. Main barriers to the clinical use of opioids were patients’ reluctance to take opioids (83.3%); unknown degree of pain (79.2%); and pain of unknown origin (51.4%). ECP s’ average knowledge scores were sufficient: those who felt that their knowledge of opioids was poor scored lower than those who felt that their knowledge was good. Conclusions Factors identified in this study may help provide better pain management for vulnerable older persons living in a long‐term care facility. Also, more patient information on the pros and cons of opioid use is needed, as well as appropriate tools for better clinical assessment of pain in a long‐term care population.