Patient-reported pain, satisfaction, adverse effects, and deviations from ambulatory surgery pain medication.

OBJECTIVES: Addressing the challenges of ambulatory surgery involves balancing effective pain relief with minimizing the side effects of pain medication. Due to the heightened risk of opioid abuse, Helsinki University Hospital (Finland) has had a stringent oxycodone prescription policy. This policy prompts an exploration into whether ambulatory surgery patients experience severe post-surgical pain and whether an increase in prescribed opioids would cause elevation in adverse effects. METHODS: This prospective cohort study, with a 1-week follow-up, included 111 adult ambulatory surgery patients (orthopaedics, urology). The patients documented their pain levels within the first postoperative week (using a numerical rating scale [NRS] of 0-10) and pain medication intake up to two days postoperatively. Furthermore, they completed a questionnaire assessing their satisfaction with pain relief, medication-related adverse effects, and adherence to instructions. Medication intake was cross-referenced with the provided instructions and prescriptions. RESULTS: A notable 56% of patients reported experiencing intense pain (NRS ≥5) within a week following surgery. Of these, 52% received a single dose of slow-release oxycodone (5-20 mg) at discharge for use on the night of surgery. Predominantly prescribed pain medications included a combination of paracetamol and codeine (64%) or ibuprofen (62%). Satisfaction rates were high, with 87% expressing satisfaction with pain medication given at hospital discharge and 90% expressing contentment with the prescribed medication. The most common adverse effects were tiredness/grogginess (45%), sleep disturbances (38%), nausea (37%), and constipation (27%). Also, 24% of patients self-reported deviations from medication instructions. A comparison of self-reported and instructed medications revealed that 14% exceeded prescribed dosages, and 28% opted for preparations different from those prescribed. Notably, patients who self-reported deviations from instructions differed from those objectively deviating from instructions. CONCLUSIONS: Although 56% of patients had intense pain, the majority expressed satisfaction with the provided pain relief. Instances of non-adherence to medication instructions were prevalent, often going unnoticed by the patients themselves.

Dissecting shared pain representations to understand their behavioral and clinical relevance.

Accounts of shared representations posit that the experience of pain and pain empathy rely on similar neural mechanisms. Experimental research employing novel analytical and methodological approaches has made significant advances in both the identification and targeted manipulation of such shared experiences and their neural underpinnings. This revealed that painful experiences can be shared on different representational levels, from pain-specific to domain-general features, such as negative affect and its regulation. In view of direct links between such representations and social behaviors such as prosocial behavior, conditions characterized by aberrant pain processing may come along with heavy impairments in the social domain, depending on the affected representational level. This has wide potential implications in light of the high prevalence of pain-related clinical conditions, their management, and the overuse of pain medication. In this review and opinion paper, we aim to chart the path toward a better understanding of the link between shared affect and prosocial behavior.

A real-world study of the quality of Outpatient Pain Management in patients with Cancer.

PURPOSE: Up to 40% patients with cancer reporting pain may not receive optimal analgesia indicating inadequate treatment of pain. We examined the patterns of outpatient pain management in patients with cancer who reported pain. METHODS: We used the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data for outpatient visits from 2006 to 2018 for patients with any cancer and reporting pain. The primary outcome was prescription of pain medications among these patients. We performed multinomial logistic regression to identify factors associated with analgesic prescriptions among patients with cancer who reported pain. RESULTS: We captured an estimated total of 412 million outpatient visits of which 22 million visits dealt with patients with cancer reporting pain. An estimated total of 13.8 million (61.33%) patient visits had pain reported but were not prescribed any pain medications. 5.5 million (24.44%) patient visits had non-opioid analgesic prescription while opioid analgesics were prescribed during 3.2 million (14.22%) visits. Patients who were black, aged 45-64 years, residing in rural geographical areas, visiting medical subspecialty practices, and having cancers of the respiratory and digestive systems had higher odds of receiving opioid prescription. CONCLUSIONS: As one of the largest pain management studies among patients with cancer in the outpatient setting, covering 412 million patient visits, our study shows that a significant proportion of patients with cancer who reported pain did not receive a prescription for analgesics suggesting a possibility of undertreatment of pain. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Undertreatment of pain continues to remain a major unmet need in patients with cancer.

Prescription drug monitoring programs and prescription pain medication misuse among U.S. high school students-2019.

BACKGROUND: Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) are state-level databases that track and inform prescribing practices to reduce prescription drug diversion and misuse. To our knowledge, only three studies have examined the impact of PDMPs on opioid-related outcomes among adolescents, and none have focused on prescription pain medication misuse among adolescents. METHODS: This study leveraged data from the 2019 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to explore the associations between five categories of PDMP dimensions and the prevalence of self-reported prescription pain medication misuse. Demographic factors' associations with self-reported prescription pain medication misuse were also examined. RESULTS: In 2019, none of the PDMP dimensions were associated with self-reported prescription pain medication misuse among U.S. high school students, adjusting for gender, grade, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation. CONCLUSIONS: None of the five PDMP dimensions were associated with lower prescription pain medication misuse, however further research is needed, especially as new YRBS data become available.

Effectiveness of implementing a standardized perioperative pain management protocol in children undergoing tonsillectomy: A quality improvement project.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Tonsillectomy procedures are commonly performed worldwide. At our academic tertiary care facility, we perform approximately 1000 tonsillectomy procedures annually. We have found inconsistent pain management strategies in pediatric tonsillectomy patients have contributed to variability in postoperative complications and the number and types of postoperative pain medications required in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). This project aimed to assess the impact of implementing a standardized perioperative pain management protocol on reducing postoperative complications in pediatric patients who underwent a tonsillectomy procedure. METHODS: A pre-post-intervention design was utilized, comparing characteristics and outcomes of pediatric patients for whom a standardized perioperative pain management protocol was implemented over a 12-week period compared to those who did not. The standardized perioperative pain management protocol was utilized intraoperatively by the anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, and residents. A Qualtrics survey was used by the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) nurses to gather data as they cared for patients who underwent tonsillectomy. Four outcomes were measured: (1) postoperative pain medication administration, (2) rate of postoperative respiratory complications, (3) rate of adherence, and (4) usability of a standardized pain management protocol. Data were compared between pre and post-implementation groups. RESULTS: During the quality improvement project, 180 children underwent tonsillectomy, with 81 in the control group and 99 in the intervention group. The median age did not differ between groups. The control group had higher postoperative opioid medication usage (93.8% vs. 54.5%) and a higher number of opioids administered in the recovery room. Postoperative IV fentanyl was reduced in the intervention group (49.4% vs. 28.3% in the intervention, p = .004). Respiratory interventions were more frequent in the control group (24.7% vs. 7.1%), with increased respiratory team activation. Respiratory team activation in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) includes a 511 page for anesthesia provider assistance. Respiratory interventions included bag-mask ventilation, lidocaine, propofol or succinylcholine administration, and reintubation. The intervention group had 100% adherence to the pain management protocol, and providers found it easy to use. CONCLUSION: The quality improvement project highlighted notable improvements in the intervention group for whom a standardized perioperative pain management protocol was used, including reduced opioid medication administration, lower incidence of respiratory interventions, and high adherence to the pain management protocol. These findings underscore the effectiveness and feasibility of standardized protocols in enhancing patient outcomes.

Emotion Regulation and Psychological Dependence on Pain Medication among Hospital Outpatients with Chronic Spinal Pain: The Influence of Rumination about Pain and Alexithymia.

Objective: To examine the extent to which pain acceptance, pain catastrophising and alexithymia moderate associations between pain intensity and psychological pain medication dependence. Methods: Participants (106 hospital outpatients with chronic spinal pain) completed the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire (LDQ) to measure psychological dependence on pain medication, and the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire-8 (CPAQ-8), the Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS) and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), plus the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Results: Multiple linear regression showed that degree of psychological dependence (measured dimensionally across the range of LDQ scores) was associated with TAS subscale difficulty identifying feelings (DIF) (ß = 0.249, p = <0.002) and PCS subscale rumination (ß = 0.193, p = 0.030), independently of pain intensity and risk behaviors for medication misuse. The effect of pain intensity was moderated by rumination, with pain intensity more strongly associated with dependence when rumination was high (interaction ß = 0.192, p = 0.004). Logistic regression showed that the effect of pain intensity on severe dependence (measured categorically as LDQ score ≥ 20) was moderated by alexithymia, so that severe dependence was independently associated with the combination of intense pain and high alexithymia (interaction odds ratio = 7.26, 95% CIs = 1.63-32.42, p = 0.009). Conclusions: Rumination and alexithymia moderated the associations between pain intensity and psychological pain medication dependence, consistent with emotion regulation theory. This raises the possibility that specifically targeting rumination about pain and symptoms of alexithymia could potentially improve the effectiveness of psychological interventions for chronic pain and help people to avoid or reduce their psychological dependence on pain medication.

Patient-level patterns in daily prescribed opioid dosage in single level lumbar fusion are associated with postoperative opioid dosage and adverse events: a retrospective analysis of claims data.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery have high rates of preoperative opioid use, which is associated with inferior outcomes and higher risks for opioid dependency postoperatively. PURPOSE: Determine whether there are identifiable subgroups of patients that follow distinct patterns in pre- and postoperative opioid dosing. Examine how preoperative patterns in opioid dosing relate to postoperative opioid patterns, opioid cessation, and the risk for adverse events. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Retrospective analysis of an administrative claims database (MeritiveTM Marketscan® Research Databases 2007-2015). PATIENT SAMPLE: The 9,768 patients undergoing primary single level lumbar fusion. OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary: daily morphine milligram equivalent (MME) opioid dosing calculated from prescriptions dispensed for 1 year before and after surgery; secondary: 90-day all-cause readmission and complications, 90-day acute postoperative pain, 90-day and 1-year reoperation, surgical costs, length of stay, and discharge disposition. METHODS: Distinct patient subgroups defined by patterns of daily MME pre- and postoperatively were identified via group-based trajectory modeling. Associations between these groups and outcomes were assessed with multivariable logistic regression with risk adjustment for patient and surgical factors. RESULTS: Among primary single level lumbar fusion patients, 59.5% filled an opioid prescription in the 3 months preceding surgery, whereas 40.5% were opioid naïve (Naïve). Five distinct subgroups of daily MME were identified among those filling opioids preoperatively: (1) Naïve to 3m (21.2% of patients): no opioids until 3 months preoperatively, escalating to 15 MME/day; (2) Low to 3m (11.4%): very low or as needed dose until 3 months preoperatively, escalating to 15 MME/day; (3) 6m Rise (6.9%): no opioids until 6 months preoperatively, escalating to >30 MME/day; (4) Medium (9.8%): increased linearly from 10 to 25 MME/day across the year before surgery; (5) High (10.0%): increased linearly from 60 to >80 MME/day across the year before surgery. These five preoperative opioid groups were related to postoperative opioids filled in a dose-response manner. The two preoperative patient groups with chronic Medium to High-dose opioid dosing were associated with increased adverse events, including all-cause readmission, reoperation, and pneumonia, whereas a low baseline group with a large, earlier preoperative rise in opioid dosing (6m Rise) had increased encounters for acute postoperative pain. Postoperatively, only 9.5% of patients did not fill an opioid prescription. Five distinct postoperative subgroups were identified based on their patterns in daily MME: Two groups ceased filling opioids within the year following surgery (33.6% of patients), and three groups declined in opioid dosage following surgery but plateaued at low (0-5 MME/day, 29.1%), medium (10-15 MME/day, 12.0%), or high (70-75 MME/day), 13.1%) doses by 1 year. Patients within the higher preoperative opioid groups were more likely to belong to the postoperative groups that were unable to cease filling opioids. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of a patient's preoperative time trend in daily opioid use may provide significant prognostic value and help guide pain management and risk reduction efforts. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Pain medication misuse in the South African spinal cord injury context.

Background: Pain after spinal cord injury (SCI) is debilitating and has been reported to be difficult to treat, despite pharmacological interventions. Pain medication misuse (PMM) and associated individual factors among people with spinal cord injury (PWSCI) are scarce. Aim: To determine PMM and the associated factors in PWSCI. Setting: Homes of community-dwelling manual wheelchair users with SCI in South Africa. Methods: Community-dwelling PWSCI (n = 122) were consecutively sampled and the Pain Medication Questionnaire (PMQ) was used to determine PMM. Descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test, independent t-tests, and simple linear regression tests were performed using SPSS v27. Testing was conducted at the 0.05 level of significance. Results: Eighty-five per cent of the participants reported the presence of pain and 48.1% of them used pain medication. Forty-four percent of people who used pain medication scored ≥ 30, indicative of serious aberrant drug-taking behaviours. Opioids were mainly used for neuropathic pain and in combination with other types of medications such as anticonvulsants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (44.0%). Pain severity and the type of pain medication were found to be predictors of PMM (p < 0.01 respectively). Conclusion: Pain relief after SCI remains difficult to achieve, with an evident high risk of PMM, which may lead to long-lasting side effects, dependency, or overdose. Contribution: This study has shown the need for the assessment of the potential risk of dependency before prescribing pain medication, particularly opioids to PWSCI.

Pain management in German hospices: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pain management is a necessary component of palliative care as most patients suffer from pain during the final phase of life. Due to the complex causation of pain in the last phase of life, it is important to utilize methods other than pharmacotherapeutic options in order to achieve adequate pain control. As little is known about treatment of pain in German hospices, a nationwide survey was conducted. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All German hospices (259) were contacted by post in June 2020 and asked to participate in an anonymous cross-sectional survey. RESULTS: A total of 148 (57%) German hospices took part in the survey. A broad variety of medication is used in the hospice setting. Metamizole is the most commonly used non-opiod analgesic , hydromorphone the most commonly used opioid, and pregabalin is the most commonly prescribed co-analgesic drug. The pain medication is usually prescribed as an oral slow-release substance. Standardized treatment schemes are rare among the responding hospices. Most of the respondents also use complementary treatment options, such as aroma (oil) therapy or music therapy, in the treatment of pain. Palliative sedation is used by nearly all responding hospices if all other treatment options fail. CONCLUSION: This survey provides an overview of the treatment options for pain management in German hospices. A broad variety of pain medication is used. Compared to international literature, it is debatable whether such a large variety of different types of pain medication is necessary, or whether a reduction in the type of medication available and the use of standardized treatment schemes could benefit everyone involved.

Associations between cannabis use, opioid misuse and severe psychological distress in adolescents: A cross-sectional school-based study.

BACKGROUND: Cannabis use and nonmedical use of prescription opioids are consumed by a small to moderate number of adolescents. However, little is known about their combined influence on mental health in this age group. This study examined the association between cannabis use, nonmedical use of prescription opioids, or both with serious psychological distress among adolescents and tested if sex could moderate these associations. METHODS: We based our analyses on cross-sectional data from the 2019 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey, a provincially representative sample of students in grades 7 through 12 (aged 11-20 years or older) across Ontario, Canada (n= 7097; mean age: 15.2 ± 1.2 years). Logistic regression analyses were adjusted for important covariates. RESULTS: We found that 20.5% reported cannabis use only, 5.8% reported opioid use only, and 5% reported both cannabis and opioid use. Cannabis use only (odds ratio [OR]:1.91; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.53-2.37), opioid use only (OR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.63-3.00), and both cannabis and opioid use (OR: 3.24; 95% CI: 2.25-4.66) were associated with greater odds of serious psychological distress after adjustment for covariates. Associations were similar for males and females. CONCLUSION: The use of both cannabis and opioids is significantly associated with serious psychological distress among adolescents. Adolescents who use both cannabis and opioids represent a small and vulnerable group that should be targeted in future interventions against mental health problems. Health professionals should consider screening for polysubstance use, especially when working with adolescents who use cannabis.

Opioid Prescribing Variation After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in the US Military Health System.

INTRODUCTION: After laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), there is a wide variation in opioid prescription miligram morphine equivalent dose (MED) and refills across US medical institutions. Given wide variation and opioid prescription guidelines, it is essential to conduct thorough health services research across medical, surgical, and patient-level factors that can be implemented to improve system-wide prescribing practices. Therefore, this study describes discharge MED variation and opioid refill probability after emergent and nonemergent LC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included medical record data of adult patients (N = 20,025) undergoing LC from January 2016 to June 2021 in the US Military Health System. Data visualizations and bivariate analyses examined prescription patterns across hospitals and evaluated the relationship between patient-level, care-level, and system-level factors and each outcome: discharge MED and opioid refill probability. Two generalized additive mixed models evaluated the relationship between predictors and each outcome. RESULTS: There was a significant variation in opioid and nonopioid pain medication prescribing practices across hospitals. While several factors were associated with discharge MED and opioid refill probability, the strongest effects were related to time period (before versus after a June 2018 Defense Health Agency policy release) and receipt of an opioid/nonopioid combination medication. Despite decreases in MED, the MED remained almost twice the recommended dose per prior research. CONCLUSIONS: Variation by hospital suggests the need for system-level changes that target genuine practice change and opioid stewardship. Inclusion of patient-reported outcomes, electronic health record decision support tools, and academic detailing programs may support system-level improvements.

Increased Use and Large Variation in Strong Opioids and Metamizole (Dipyrone) for Minor and Major Musculoskeletal Injuries Between 2008 and 2018: An Analysis of a Representative Sample of Swiss Workers.

PURPOSE: Musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries are a major contributing factor for chronic pain. To date, little is known how pain medication use in MSK injuries has changed over time. We assessed pain medication prescription for MSK injuries in a representative sample of Swiss workers between 2008 and 2018. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the Swiss Accident Insurance Fund (Suva) data. We calculated annual pain medication use, treatment days, and costs associated with pain medication use in minor and major MSK injuries. RESULTS: In total, 1,921,382 cases with MSK injuries with ≥ 1 pain medication were analyzed. Whereas MSK injuries with ≥ 1 pain medication increased by 9.4%, we observed a larger increase in metamizole (+ 254%), strong opioids (+ 88.4%), coxibs (+ 85.8%), and paracetamol (+ 28.1%). Strong opioids were increasingly used in minor (+ 91.4%) and major (+ 88.3%) injuries. The increase in metamizole (+ 390.6%) and coxibs (+ 115.5%) was larger in minor injuries compared to major injuries (+ 238.7% and + 80.6%, respectively). Medical expenses decreased in all medications except for strong opioids where a substantial increase was observed (+ 192.4% in minor; + 34% in major injuries). CONCLUSIONS: We observed a disproportionate increase in metamizole, strong opioids, coxibs, and paracetamol prescriptions even in minor MSK injuries between 2008 and 2018. Whereas treatment costs decreased for all pain medications, there was a substantial increase in strong opioids. A more liberal prescription practice of opioids conflict with current evidence-based practice recommendations and need to be addressed by physicians and policy makers.

Cut-off scores of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-8: Implications for improving the management of chronic pain.

AIM: Mental distress, non-specific symptoms of depression and anxiety, is common in chronic pelvic pain (CPP). It contributes to poor recovery. Women's health nurses operate in multidisciplinary teams to facilitate the assessment and treatment of CPP. However, valid cut-off points for identifying highly distressed patients are lacking, entailing a gap in CPP management. DESIGN: This instrumental cross-sectional study identified a statistically derived cut-off score for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-8 (DASS-8) among 214 Australian women with CPP (mean age = 33.3, SD = 12.4, range = 13-71 years). METHODS: Receiver operator characteristic curve, decision trees and K-means clustering techniques were used to examine the predictive capacity of the DASS-8 for psychiatric comorbidity, pain severity, any medication intake, analgesic intake and sexual abuse. The study is prepared according to the STROBE checklist. RESULTS: Cut-off points resulting from the analysis were ordered ascendingly. The median (13.0) was chosen as an optimal cut-off score for predicting key outcomes. Women with DASS-8 scores below 15.5 had higher analgesic intake. CONCLUSION: CPP women with a DASS-8 score above 13.0 express greater pain severity, psychiatric comorbidity and polypharmacy. Thus, they may be a specific target for nursing interventions dedicated to alleviating pain through the management of associated co-morbidities. IMPLICATIONS FOR PATIENT CARE: At a cut-off point of 13.0, the DASS-8 may be a practical instrument for recommending a thorough clinician-based examination for psychiatric comorbidity to facilitate adequate CPP management. It may be useful for evaluating patients' response to nursing pain management efforts. Replications of the study in different populations/countries are warranted.

Republication of "Postoperative Narcotic Prescription Practice in Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgery".

Background: The misuse and abuse of opioid pain medications have become a public health crisis. Because orthopedic surgeons are the third highest prescribers of opioids, understanding their postoperative pain medication prescribing practices is key to solving the opioid crisis. To this end, we conducted a study of the variability in orthopedic foot and ankle surgery postoperative opioid prescribing practice patterns. Methods: Three hundred fifty orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons were contacted; respondents completed a survey with 4 common patient scenarios and surgical procedures followed by questions regarding typical postoperative pain medication prescriptions. The scenarios ranged from minimally painful procedures to those that would be expected to be significantly more painful. Summaries were calculated as percentages and chi-square or Fisher exact tests were used to compare survey responses between groups stratified by years in practice and type of practice. Results: Sixty-four surgeons responded to the survey (92.8% male), 31% were in practice less than 5 years, 34% 6 to 15 years and 34% more than 15 years. For each scenario, there was variation in the type of pain medication prescribed (scenario 1: 17% 5 mg hydrocodone, 22% 10 mg hydrocodone, 52% oxycodone, and 3% oxycodone sustained release [SR]; scenario 2: 15% 5 mg hydrocodone, 13% 10 mg hydrocodone, 58% oxycodone, and 9% oxycodone SR; scenario 3: 11% 5 mg hydrocodone, 13% 10 mg hydrocodone, 56% oxycodone, and 14.1% oxycodone SR; scenario 4: 3% 5 mg hydrocodone, 5% 10 mg hydrocodone, 44% oxycodone, and 45% oxycodone SR) and the number of pills dispensed. Use of multimodal pain management was variable but most physicians use regional nerve blocks for each scenario (76%, 87%, 69%, 94%). Less experienced surgeons (less than 5 years in practice) supplement with tramadol more for scenario 1 (P = .034) as well as use regional nerve blocks for scenario 2 (P = .039) more than experienced surgeons (more than 15 years in practice). Conclusion: It is evident that variation exists in narcotic prescription practices for postoperative pain management by orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons. With new AAOS guidelines, it is important to try to create some standardization in opioid prescription protocols.

Pain and quality of life in nursing home residents with dementia after admission - a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Pain in nursing home (NH) residents with dementia is commonly reported and may affect Quality of Life (QoL) negatively. Few longitudinal studies have explored how pain and QoL develop in NH residents with dementia starting from their admission to the NH. AIM: The aim was to explore pain, QoL, and the association between pain and QoL over time in persons with dementia admitted to a NH. METHODS: A convenience sample, drawn from 68 non-profit NHs, included a total of 996 Norwegian NH residents with dementia (mean age 84.5 years, SD 7.6, 36.1% men) at NH admission (A1), with annual follow-ups for two years (A2 and A3). Pain and QoL were assessed using the Mobilization-Observation-Behavior-Intensity-Dementia-2 (MOBID-2) Pain Scale and the Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia (QUALID) scale, respectively, at all assessments. Severity of dementia, personal level of activities of daily living, general medical health, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and the prescription of psychotropic drugs and analgesics (opioids and/or paracetamol) were also assessed at all assessments. RESULTS: Mean (SD) MOBID-2 pain intensity scores were 2.1 (2.1), 2.2 (2.2), and 2.4 (2.1) at A1, A2, and A3, respectively. Participants who were prescribed analgesics had higher pain intensity scores at all assessments than participants not prescribed analgesics. The mean (SD) QUALID scores at each assessment were 19.8 (7.1), 20.8 (7.2), and 22.1 (7.5) at A1, A2, and A3, respectively. In the adjusted linear mixed model, higher pain intensity score, prescription of opioids, and prescription of paracetamol were associated with poorer QoL (higher QUALID total score and higher scores in the QoL dimensions of sadness and tension) when assessed simultaneously. No time trend in QoL was found in these adjusted analyses. CONCLUSION: NH residents with dementia who have higher pain intensity scores or are prescribed analgesics are more likely to have poorer QoL. Clinicians, NH administrators, and national healthcare authorities need to look into strategies and actions for pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain treatment to reduce pain intensity while simultaneously avoiding negative side effects of pain treatment that hamper QoL.

"I'm Not the Same Person Anymore": Thematic Analysis Exploring Experiences of Dependence to Prescribed Analgesics in Patients with Chronic Pain in the UK.

INTRODUCTION: The rising issue of dependence to prescribed pain medication for patients with chronic pain has been highlighted in the literature; however, there is a dearth of research exploring the patient perspective of this dependence in the United Kingdom (UK). This exploratory qualitative study aimed to investigate experiences of prescribed analgesic dependence in patients with chronic pain in the UK. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine UK-based participants (eight females, one male) with a mean age of 44, who experienced chronic pain and identified as dependent to their prescribed pain medication. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and the data analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three main themes emerged, including perceptions of dependence, interactions with others, and interactions with medical professionals. The findings revealed how the experiences focused on the participants' own perception of their dependence, such as its perceived impact on their life and how the dependence began, and the relation of the dependence to their social environment, for example, doctor-patient relations. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest practical implications for the management of dependence such as, raising awareness of the risks of dependence with these medications in the UK, and stricter observation of those taking the medications to identify dependence issues early.

A growing number of people with chronic pain are prescribed analgesics (painkillers) by a medical professional to manage their pain; however, these painkillers are often addictive and can cause dependence for those taking them. Despite the growing number of dependent patients, there is a lack of research into this type of dependence in the United Kingdom (UK). This study aimed to speak to people affected by this dependence and understand their point of view. Nine people were interviewed. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. Their words were analysed using thematic analysis, which helps to find the common themes in experiences. Three themes were developed including: what they thought of their dependence, how they felt their dependence affected their relationships with other people, and how relationships with doctors interplayed with their dependence. Their experiences were mainly negative and suggest improvements could be made in the UK healthcare system to support these individuals and help prevent this type of dependence.

Hospitalization and emergency department visits associated with potentially inappropriate medication in older adults: self-controlled case series analysis.

Introduction: Potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) and resulting adverse health outcomes in older adults are a common occurrence. However, PIM prescriptions are still frequent for vulnerable older adults. Here, we sought to estimate the risk of hospitalization and emergency department (ED) visits associated with PIM prescriptions over different exposure periods and PIM drug categories. Methods: We used the National Health Insurance Service-Elderly Cohort Database (NHIS-ECDB) to construct the cohort and implemented a Self-Controlled Case Series (SCCS) method. Hospitalization or ED visits during the exposure and post-exposure periods were compared to those during the non-exposure period, and six PIM drug categories were evaluated. A conditional Poisson regression model was applied, and the risk of outcomes was presented as the incidence rate ratio (IRR). All potential time-varying covariates were adjusted by year. A total of 43,942 older adults aged ≥65 y who had at least one PIM prescription and the events of either hospitalization or ED visits between Jan 2016 and Dec 2019 were selected.. Results: Mean days of each exposure period was 46 d (±123); risk was highest in exposure1 (1-7 d, 37.8%), whereas it was similar during exposure2 (15-28 d), and exposure3 (29-56 d) (16.6%). The mean number of total PIM drugs administered during the study period was 7.34 (±4.60). Both hospitalization and ED visits were significantly higher in both exposure (adjusted IRR 2.14, 95% Confidence Interval (CI):2.11-2.17) and post-exposure periods (adjusted IRR 1.41, 95% CI:1.38-1.44) in comparison to non-exposure period. The risk of adverse health outcomes was highest during the first exposure period (1-14 d), but decreased gradually over time. Among the PIM categories, pain medication was used the most, followed by anticholinergics. All PIM categories significantly increased the risk of hospitalization and ED visits, ranging from 1.18 (other PIM) to 2.85 (pain medication). Sensitivity analyses using the first incidence of PIM exposure demonstrated similar results. All PIM categories significantly increased the risk of hospitalization and ED visits, with the initial period of PIM prescriptions showing the highest risk. In subgroup analysis stratified by the number of medications, PIM effects on the risk of hospitalization and ED visits remained significant but gradually attenuated by the increased number of medications. Discussion: Therefore, the development of deprescribing strategies to control PIM and polypharmacy collectively is urgent and essential.

The Effect of Terra-Cortril as Local Pain Medication on the Healing Process of a Fresh Extraction Socket: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

(1) Background: Use of Terra-Cortril may reduce pain and discomfort after tooth extraction. It is widely used among dentists, especially for third molar extraction and for treatment of dry socket. Only few case reports described unsuccessful healing with formation of myospherulosis. (2) Aim: The primary objective of this retrospective cohort study was to compare the occurrence of unsuccessful healing between extraction sockets locally treated with Terra-Cortril (TC) (exposure cohort) and extraction sockets subjected to unassisted healing (non-exposure cohort). The assessment of the three-dimensional morphology of the bone was a secondary objective. (3) Material and methods: The records of patients who had one or more extractions between 1 January 2020 and 1 July 2021 followed by implant placement in one private practice were retrieved and data were extracted. At the time of implant placement, practitioners established, both clinically and radiographically, if the healing was successful or unsuccessful. Explanatory demographic as well as clinical variables were extracted from patient files, checked and supplemented by contacting patients in cases of missing data. (4) Results: 69 patients were included who had, in total, 99 extractions. The exposure cohort included 55 sites, while the non-exposure cohort included 44 sites. A total of 56 sites demonstrated successful healing, and 53 showed unsuccessful healing. The regression model identified TC as a significant predictor (p = 0.014) for unsuccessful healing with an odds ratio of 2.86. Sites treated with Terra-Cortril had a significantly greater bone defect at level -1 mm, level -3 mm, and level -5 mm from the bone crest, and significantly greater maximal vertical and horizontal bone defects. At sites where Terra-Cortril was used, significantly more surgical consequences were reported (70.91% vs. 18.18%, p < 0.001). (5) Conclusions: fresh extraction sockets treated with Terra-Cortril increased the likelihood of unsuccessful healing with an odds ratio of 2.86. The greater defect size leads to significantly more limitations when planning implants at sites previously treated with TC.

Psychological factors and pain medication use in adolescents with chronic pain.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine (1) the associations of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and pain catastrophizing with pain medication use in adolescents with chronic pain and (2) the extent to which these associations differed as a function of adolescents' sex. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from 320 adolescents 12-18 years of age with chronic pain were drawn from an epidemiological study on pediatric chronic pain conducted in Reus (Catalonia, Spain). Participants were asked to provide sociodemographic information and respond to measures assessing pain (location, frequency, intensity, and interference), pain medication use, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and pain catastrophizing. Point biserial correlations were conducted to examine univariate associations between the psychological variables and pain medication use. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis was used to examine these associations while controlling for demographic characteristics, pain intensity, and pain interference. RESULTS: Anxiety, depressive symptoms, and pain catastrophizing were significantly associated with pain medication use in univariate analyses. Regression analysis identified pain catastrophizing as a unique independent predictor of pain medication use after controlling for the effect of demographic variables (sex and age), pain intensity, and pain interference (odds ratio = 1.1, P < .05). No moderating effect of adolescents' sex on the associations between psychological factors and pain medication use was found. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with chronic pain with higher levels of pain catastrophizing use pain medications more often. Research to examine the impact of interventions targeting pain catastrophizing on pain medication use among adolescents with chronic pain would be an important next step.

Post-lumbar surgery prescription variation and opioid-related outcomes in a large US healthcare system: an observational study.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Spinal decompression and fusion procedures are one of the most common procedures performed in the United States (US) and remain associated with high postsurgical opioid burden. Despite guidelines emphasizing nonopioid pharmacotherapy strategies for postsurgical pain management, prescribing practices are likely variable and guideline-incongruent. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to characterize patient-, care-, and system-level factors associated with opioid, nonopioid pain medication, and benzodiazepine prescribing variation in the US Military Health System (MHS). STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Retrospective study analyzing medical records from the US MHS Data Repository. PATIENT SAMPLE: Adult patients (N=6,625) undergoing lumbar decompression and spinal fusion procedures from 2016 to 2021 in the MHS enrolled in TRICARE at least a year prior to their procedure and had at least one encounter beyond the 90-day postprocedure period, without recent trauma, malignancy, cauda equina syndrome, and co-occurring procedures. OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient-, care-, and system-level factors influencing outcomes of discharge morphine equivalent dose (MED), 30-day opioid refill, and persistent opioid use (POU). POU was defined as dispensing of opioid prescriptions monthly for the first 3 months after surgery and then at least once between 90 and 180 days after surgery. METHODS: (Generalized) linear mixed models evaluated multilevel factors associated with discharge MED, opioid refill, and POU. RESULTS: The median discharge MED was 375 mg (IQR 225, 580) and days' supply was 7 days (IQR 4, 10); 36% received an opioid refill and 5%, overall, met criteria for POU. Discharge MED was associated with fusion procedures (+151-198 mg), multilevel procedures (+26 mg), policy release (-184 mg), opioid naïvty (-31 mg), race (Black -21 mg, another race and ethnicity -47 mg), benzodiazepine receipt (+100 mg), opioid-only medications (+86 mg), gabapentinoid receipt (-20 mg), and nonopioid pain medications receipt (-60 mg). Longer symptom duration, fusion procedures, beneficiary category, mental healthcare, nicotine dependence, benzodiazepine receipt, and opioid naivety were associated with both opioid refill and POU. Multilevel procedures, elevated comorbidity score, policy period, antidepressant receipt, and gabapentinoid receipt, and presurgical physical therapy were also associated with opioid refill. POU increased with increasing discharge MED. CONCLUSIONS: Significant variation in discharge prescribing practices require systems-level, evidence-based intervention.