Patient with a History of Active Substance Abuse Requesting Opioids for Chronic Pain

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan D. Kaye ◽  
Martin J Carney ◽  
Mark R. Jones ◽  
Harold J. Campbell ◽  
Burton R. Beakley

Health care providers face a considerable challenge when treating chronic pain patients with prescription opioid medications. Although indications exist for the use of these drugs, their addictive nature and street value render them high-risk targets for abuse, misuse, and diversion. All patients receiving opioids should, therefore, be screened for abuse potential before beginning opioid therapy, be required to sign an opioid agreement, and receive close monitoring throughout the course of their treatment. Patients who present with a history of active substance abuse are at higher risk for iatrogenic dependence and necessitate more frequent monitoring. Herein arise several ethical issues, such as the principle of justice, which mediates equitable treatment for all patients. This review discusses the disease underlying substance abuse and clinical manifestations thereof, as well as relevant pathophysiology, ethical issues, and guidelines for the safe treatment with opioids. This review contains 3 tables and 43 references. Key Words: addiction, ethics, opioids, safety, substance abuse 

Author(s):  
Lara Freidenfelds

The Myth of the Perfect Pregnancy is a history of why Americans came to have the unrealistic expectation of perfect pregnancies and to mourn even very early miscarriages. The introduction explains that miscarriage is a common phenomenon and a natural part of healthy women’s childbearing: approximately 20 percent of confirmed pregnancies spontaneously miscarry, mostly in the first months of gestation. Eight topical chapters describe childbearing and pregnancy loss in colonial America; the rise of birth control from the late eighteenth century to the present; changes in parenting from the early nineteenth century to the present that increasingly focused attention on the emotional relationship between parent and child; the twentieth-century rise of prenatal care and maternal education about embryonic growth; the twentieth-century blossoming of a consumer culture that marketed baby items to pregnant women; the abortion debates from the mid-twentieth century to the present; the late twentieth-century introduction of obstetric ultrasound and its evolution into a pregnancy ritual of “meeting the baby” as early as eight weeks’ gestation; and the late twentieth-century introduction of home pregnancy testing and the identification of pregnancy as early as several days before a missed period. The conclusion offers suggestions for how women and their families, health-care providers, and the maternity care industry can better handle pregnancy and address miscarriage.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (05) ◽  
pp. 755-763
Author(s):  
Shibani Kanungo ◽  
Jayne Barr ◽  
Parker Crutchfield ◽  
Casey Fealko ◽  
Neelkamal Soares

Abstract Background Advances in technology and access to expanded genetic testing have resulted in more children and adolescents receiving genetic testing for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. With increased adoption of the electronic health record (EHR), genetic testing is increasingly resulted in the EHR. However, this leads to challenges in both storage and disclosure of genetic results, particularly when parental results are combined with child genetic results. Privacy and Ethical Considerations Accidental disclosure and erroneous documentation of genetic results can occur due to the nature of their presentation in the EHR and documentation processes by clinicians. Genetic information is both sensitive and identifying, and requires a considered approach to both timing and extent of disclosure to families and access to clinicians. Methods This article uses an interdisciplinary approach to explore ethical issues surrounding privacy, confidentiality of genetic data, and access to genetic results by health care providers and family members, and provides suggestions in a stakeholder format for best practices on this topic for clinicians and informaticians. Suggestions are made for clinicians on documenting and accessing genetic information in the EHR, and on collaborating with genetics specialists and disclosure of genetic results to families. Additional considerations for families including ethics around results of adolescents and special scenarios for blended families and foster minors are also provided. Finally, administrators and informaticians are provided best practices on both institutional processes and EHR architecture, including security and access control, with emphasis on the minimum necessary paradigm and parent/patient engagement and control of the use and disclosure of data. Conclusion The authors hope that these best practices energize specialty societies to craft practice guidelines on genetic information management in the EHR with interdisciplinary input that addresses all stakeholder needs.


SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A345-A345
Author(s):  
S Gehring ◽  
L Auricchio ◽  
S Kidwell ◽  
K Oppy ◽  
S Smallwood ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is associated with neuro-cognitive, cardiovascular and metabolic morbidity in children. Adeno-tonsillectomy is the first line of treatment for OSA with PAP therapy and Oxygen supplementation being alternative therapeutic options in select cases. Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a known risk factor for postoperative respiratory complications after adenotonsillectomy. Therefore, inpatient adenotonsillectomy with close monitoring is recommended for this group of children. Challenges to safe and timely care for this high risk group of children can be overcome with effective coordination of care between different locations and health care providers. Methods All children seeking treatment at Dayton Children’s Division of Sleep Medicine were managed through a pathway developed by a multi-disciplinary team involving sleep medicine, otolaryngology and clinical logistics. Severe OSA was defined as AHI ≥15 events/hr (children <2 year old), AHI ≥15 events/hr with three or more Oxygen desaturations <80% (children ≥2 to <6 years old), AHI ≥ 30 events/hr with three or more Oxygen desaturations <80% (Children ≥6 to 18 years old). Results A total of 78 children were diagnosed with severe OSA in 2019. All children were successfully triaged to appropriate therapeutic option (Adenonotonsillectomy, PAP, O2) within 24 hours of diagnosis. Urgent adenotonsillectomy was performed on the same day in 4 children and within 2 weeks on 12 children. There was no postoperative respiratory complication after urgent adenotonsillectomy. Thirteen children had adenotonsillectomy after 2 weeks. PAP therapy was started in 28 children (34%). Therapy was initiated on the same day in 10 children and the next day on one child. Oxygen supplementation was started in 21 children (27%). Conclusion A multidisciplinary collaborative approach can result in delivery of timely and safe care for severe OSA in children. Support NA


2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 476-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Li ◽  
Zunyou Wu ◽  
Sheng Wu ◽  
Sung-Jae Lee ◽  
Mary Jane Rotheram-Borus ◽  
...  

Health-care providers in China are facing an exponential increase in HIV testing and HIV-positive patients. A total of 1101 service providers were recruited to examine attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in China. Logistic regression models were used to assess factors associated with providers' attitudes toward mandatory HIV testing. Providers were most likely to endorse mandatory HIV testing for patients with high-risk behaviour and for all patients before surgery. Over 43% of providers endorsed mandatory testing for anyone admitted to hospital. Controlling for demographics, multivariate analyses indicated that providers with higher perceived risk of HIV infection at work, higher general prejudicial attitudes toward PLWHA, and previous contact with HIV patients were more likely to endorse mandatory HIV testing for anyone admitted to hospital. Results underscore the importance of implementing universal precautions in health-care settings and call attention to social and ethical issues associated with HIV/AIDS control and treatment in China.


CAND Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 11-13
Author(s):  
Shakila Mohmand ◽  
Sumar Chams

Cultural competency within health care helps eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities. When assessing and treating patients with chronic pain, practitioners should feel confident in using information regarding a patient’s individual cultural beliefs due to their significant impact on the pain experience. Culture impacts perception, outlook, and communication of pain, as well as coping mechanisms. These are aspects of subjective history that influence important decisions regarding the management of chronic pain. Becoming more aware of what to look for and which questions to ask can allow naturopathic doctors and other health-care providers to continue improving therapeutic relationships and patient outcomes.


2018 ◽  
Vol 09 (04) ◽  
pp. 772-781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan Reading ◽  
Dawon Baik ◽  
Melissa Beauchemin ◽  
Kathleen Hickey ◽  
Jacqueline Merrill

Background Patient-generated health data (PGHD) collected digitally with mobile health (mHealth) technology has garnered recent excitement for its potential to improve precision management of chronic conditions such as atrial fibrillation (AF), a common cardiac arrhythmia. However, sustained engagement is a major barrier to collection of PGHD. Little is known about barriers to sustained engagement or strategies to intervene upon engagement through application design. Objective This article investigates individual patient differences in sustained engagement among individuals with a history of AF who are self-monitoring using mHealth technology. Methods This qualitative study involved patients, health care providers, and research coordinators previously involved in a randomized, controlled trial involving electrocardiogram (ECG) self-monitoring of AF. Patients were adults with a history of AF randomized to the intervention arm of this trial who self-monitored using ECG mHealth technology for 6 months. Semistructured interviews and focus groups were conducted separately with health care providers and research coordinators, engaged patients, and unengaged patients. A validated model of sustained engagement, an adapted unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), guided data collection, and analysis through directed content analysis. Results We interviewed 13 patients (7 engaged, 6 unengaged), 6 providers, and 2 research coordinators. In addition to finding differences between engaged and unengaged patients within each predictor in the adapted UTAUT model (perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, facilitating conditions), four additional factors were identified as being related to sustained engagement in this population. These are: (1) internal motivation to manage health, (2) relationship with health care provider, (3) supportive environments, and (4) feedback and guidance. Conclusion Although it required some modification, the adapted UTAUT model was useful in understanding of the parameters of sustained engagement. The findings of this study provide initial requirement specifications for the design of applications that engage patients in this unique population of adults with AF.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Getaw Worku Hassen ◽  
Amaninder Dhaliwal ◽  
Catherine Ann Jenninigs ◽  
Hossein Kalantari

Background.Acute liver failure can result from acetaminophen overdose, viral infection, toxins, and other disease conditions. Liver transplant is available in limited fashion and the criteria are strict as to who should get an available liver. N- Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) has been used in non-acetaminophen induced liver failure with success. Here we report a case of acute liver failure from cocaethylene that was reversed with NAC along with other medical therapy.Case Presentation.A 50-year-old female patient presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with a two-day history of coffee ground vomiting and hematemesis. She reported occasional substance abuse and heavy alcoholism. She reported shortness of breath and chest pain from the recurrent forceful vomiting. The rest of the review of systems was unremarkable except a fall from intoxication. Physical examination revealed anicteric conjunctiva and nontender abdomen and her vital signs were within normal limits. Initial blood work revealed acute liver and renal failure. The patient was started with general medical management and liver transplant service rejected the case due to active substance abuse. She underwent brief hemodialysis and was started on NAC. Over the course of her hospital stay her liver function and kidney function improved significantly and patient was discharged to home.Conclusion.In cases where liver transplant is not an option for various reasons including active substance abuse, a trial of N-Acetyl Cysteine may be beneficial and should be considered in the Emergency Department.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 254-266
Author(s):  
Barbka Huzjan ◽  
Ivana Hrvatin

Research Question (RQ): Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a complex condition and one of the most important causes of suffering of modern times. Self-management refers to the individual’s ability to manage the symptoms, treatment, physical and psychosocial consequences and life style changes inherent in living with a chronic condition. The research question is; what is the view on the selfmanagement of chronic musculoskeletal pain from the patient's perspective? Purpose: The purpose of this literature review was to review original articles that reported how selfmanagement educational programmes are viewed from the patient’s perspective. Method: We used an integrative review of the literature. The search was conducted from November 2019 to March 2020 on the PubMed, PEDro and OTseeker databases. We included original studies, written in English that examined the patients’ point of view on self-management. The included studies, needed to be conducted on adult patients of both sexes, that were suffering from chronic pain and were educated on self-management of their pain. Two authors independently searched for original studies. Results: Nine article were included in the review. Most of the studies included a multidisciplinary approach. Patients reported they more frequently used passive strategies to manage their pain. They want to be included in the management and be able to communicate with the provider of selfmanagement. There are several positive aspects of a multidisciplinary and groups approach. Organization: Health care providers can encourage an individual to proactively behave through ongoing processes of communication, partnerships and the creation of appropriate self-management plans over time. Society: We assume that the analysis will help to identify the social responsibility of the individual and society in the common concern for the health of the population and the individual within it. Originality: The research provides an up-to-date, new overview of the patients' perspective on self management on chronic pain. The review can be helpful to health care providers s they can compare their expectations with patients's. Limitations / further research: Further research would focus on high quality studies, and specific forms of multidisciplinary approach, and finding what patients use at a home setting and how to help them continue in the self management of their pain. Limitations of this review include the lack of risk of bias assessment and the fact that this is not a systematic review.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 369-374
Author(s):  
Mashael Alqahtani ◽  
Alla Nahhas ◽  
Lujain Malibari ◽  
Maryam Alghamdi ◽  
Sara Bazuhier ◽  
...  

Background: Oral Cancer (OC) is a serious health problem affecting the oral cavity, which may lead to death. Alcohol, tobacco, and chewing betel are the main risk factors. Early diagnosis and adequate knowledge of OC may improve the survival rate. Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge about oral cancer among dental patients in Mecca. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the dental clinics of Mecca. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were distributed to 416 respondents aged 18 or older, who spoke Arabic or English, had no history of OC, and participated voluntarily. The questionnaire consisted of three sections. The first regarded demographical data, the second measured knowledge about OC, and the third was concerned with education regarding OC provided by health-care providers. The interviewers also educated the participants by handing brochures with information about OC. Results: Knowledge about OC among dental patients in Mecca was found to be significantly low. Only 102 of the 416 participants (24.5%) had any knowledge. Only 3.4% of all participants had been educated about OC by their health-care providers. Conclusion: The results of this study show a considerable lack of general knowledge about OC among dental patients in Mecca. Health programs should be developed to raise the community’s awareness.


2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (5) ◽  
pp. 405-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Shcherbakova ◽  
Gary Tereso ◽  
Jacqueline Spain ◽  
Robert J. Roose

Background: Persistence with medication-assisted therapy among patients with opioid use disorder has been associated with reduced likelihood of illicit opioid use. Objective: We aimed to describe treatment persistence and identify factors associated with 1-year persistence among insured patients newly initiating buprenorphine-containing pharmacotherapy. Methods: The retrospective observational cohort included employer-sponsored and managed Medicaid patients newly started on buprenorphine-containing therapy between June 30, 2010, and January 1, 2015. Persistence was measured as both a continuous and dichotomous variable (proportion of patients persistent for 1 year). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with 1-year persistence. Results: A total of 302 patients met inclusion criteria. The median [range] number of treatment episodes was 1 [1-4]. Mean number of days on therapy during the first episode was 206 (SD = 152) days, with 40.4% (n = 122) of patients persisting for 1 year. Presence of concomitant fills of prescription opioid analgesics (odds ratio [OR] = 0.25; 95% CI = 0.12-0.51), being in care of an addiction specialist (OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.21-0.76), and Medicaid insurance coverage (OR = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.13-0.84) were significantly and negatively associated with 1-year persistence. There was also a strong inverse relationship between persistence and inpatient hospitalization (OR = 0.30; 95% CI = 0.12-0.76). Conclusions: Several health care delivery and use variables were significantly associated with nonpersistence. Concomitant use of prescription opioids is the most easily modifiable risk factor that health care providers and policy makers may act on to improve treatment continuation.


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