ASPO Abstracts

The Lost Voice of the Cancer Survivor within the Opioid Epidemic: The Challenges of Providing Adequate Pain Management by Health Care Providers within the Cancer Care Setting

Authors: Chavez M, Lake P, Lubrano di Ciccone B, Rajasekhara S, Gutierrez A, Sherry P, Rigg K, Henderson H, Marshall V, Pabbathi S, Martinez Tyson S

Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication
Conference Year: 2020

Abstract Body:
Purpose of Study: The opioid epidemic affects cancer patients/survivors who may rely on opioids to help manage their pain and encounter difficulty accessing their prescribed opioid medication (POM). Our study was focused on understanding health care professionals' (HCPs) perceptions and experiences of managing pain among cancer survivors. Methods: We conducted interviews with a purposive sample of 30 HCPs representing various health professions. Question domains included: pain management and opioid prescription practices. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded. Inductive applied thematic analysis techniques were employed to identify emergent themes. Results: Physicians comprised 40% of the sample, and nurses, 23%. The majority (70%) worked with cancer patients for 6+ years. Thematic analysis identified numerous factors that impact pain management among cancer survivors in the face of the opioid epidemic. The vast majority of HCPs agree that the opioid epidemic is a public health concern. However, most felt that the policies and clinical practices put in place to curtail the epidemic creates barriers to prescribing and accessing opioids for cancer pain management. Barriers such as the restriction of opioid prescribing among physicians and the use of prescription drug-monitoring programs were discussed. Several HCPs also reported emotional distress among patients who need medication but are being viewed as an opioid addict when requesting POM. In addition, HCPs voiced frustration and concerns that they may not be able to treat cancer patients/survivors’ pain appropriately. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that cancer survivors are often suffering the consequences of the opioid epidemic. Thus, it seems that cancer patients with legitimate pain have no voice and their perception is not considered when these policies and practices are implemented.

Keywords: Health care provider, cancer survivor, pain management, barriers, opioid epidemic