Telehealth acceptability and opioid prescribing patterns of providers of painful chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of sickle cell providers.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a rapid transition to telehealth services. It is unclear how subspecialists managing painful chronic diseases-such as sickle cell disease (SCD), an inherited hemoglobinopathy with significant disparities in access and outcomes-have viewed the transition to tele-health or altered their pain management practices. This study elicits the views of sickle cell providers regarding their transition to telehealth and their opioid prescribing patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: An anonymous online survey was sent to eligible sickle cell providers. SETTING: Comprehensive sickle cell centers and/or clinics across the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Physicians and advanced practice providers providing care to SCD patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Respondents answered questions regarding their (1) views of telehealth compared to in-person encounters and (2) opioid prescribing practices during the early months of the pandemic. RESULTS: Of the 130 eligible participants, 53 respondents from 35 different sickle cell centers completed at least 90 percent of the survey. Respondents reported a significant increase in telehealth encounters for routine and acute appointments (mean difference and standard deviation 57.6 ± 31.9 percent, p < 0.001 and 24.4 ± 34.1 percent, p < 0.001, respectively) since COVID-19. The overwhelming majority of respondents reported no changes in their opioid prescribing patterns since COVID-19, despite increased telehealth use. Only a minority copre-scribed naloxone as a risk mitigation strategy. CONCLUSION: The rapid uptake of telehealth has not suppressed ambulatory providers' prescribing of opioids for SCD. Studies assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and telehealth on opioid prescribing practices in other painful chronic diseases are needed to ensure health equity for vulnerable pain patients.