Efficacy of a password-protected pill-dispensing device to enhance disposal of unused opioids after cancer surgery.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (28_suppl) ◽  
pp. 264-264
Author(s):  
Jacob Cogan ◽  
Melissa Kate Accordino ◽  
Melissa Parsons Beauchemin ◽  
Sophie Ulene ◽  
Elena B. Elkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pain Control ◽  
Cancer Surgery ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
After Cancer ◽  
The Impact

264 Background: Opioid misuse is a public health crisis. Initial opioid exposures often occur post-operatively, and 10% of opioid-naïve patients who undergo cancer surgery subsequently become long-term opioid users. It has been shown that 70% of opioids prescribed post-operatively go unused, but only 9% of unused pills are disposed appropriately, which increases the risk of unintended use. We evaluated the impact of an inexpensive, password-protected dispensing device with mail return capacity on retrieval of unused pills after cancer surgery. Methods: Adult patients scheduled for major cancer-related surgery were eligible. Enrolled patients received opioid prescriptions in a password-protected, pill-dispensing device (Addinex) from a specialty pharmacy. The mechanical device links to a smartphone app, which provides passwords on a prescriber-defined schedule. Patients request a password when they are in pain, enter the password into the device and receive a pill if the prescribed time has elapsed. The smartphone app provides clinical guidance based on patient-reported pain levels, and suggests tapering strategies. Patients are instructed to return the device in a DEA-approved mailer when opioid use is no longer required for pain control. Unused pills are destroyed upon receipt. The primary objective was to determine the feasibility of device return, defined as > 50% of patients with device return. We also explored patterns of device use, patient reported outcomes, and device satisfaction via surveys and semi-structured interviews. Results: Between October, 2020 and April, 2021, 13 patients completed the study; 4 patients are currently enrolled. Among the initial 13 patients, 7 underwent abdominal hysterectomy, 4 underwent mastectomy and 2 underwent cutaneous tumor resections. The majority of these patients (n = 10, 77%) returned the device, and more than half (n = 7, 54%) returned the device within 6 weeks of surgery. Only a minority of patients (n = 5, 38%) used the device to obtain opioids; most (n = 8, 62%) used no opioids at home, and all of these patients returned the device and the unused pills. Of 11 patients who participated in semi-structured interviews, most (n = 7, 64%) said they felt safer having opioids in the device instead of a regular pill bottle. Among device users, the majority (n = 4, 80%) reported an overall positive experience. All non-users reported having no opioid requirement for pain control. Conclusions: Our early findings suggest that use of an inexpensive, password-protected, pill-dispensing device to assist with opioid dispensing and return is feasible, with a high rate of device and unused opioid return to the pharmacy. This strategy may be effective for reducing opioid diversion. Analyses and recruitment are ongoing to evaluate the benefits of reducing post-operative opioid consumption.

Optimizing electronic capture of patient-reported outcome measures in oncology clinical trials: lessons learned from a qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (17) ◽  
pp. 1195-1204
Author(s):  
Florence D Mowlem ◽  
Brad Sanderson ◽  
Jill V Platko ◽  
Bill Byrom
Keyword(s):  
Patient Reported Outcome Measures ◽  
Patient Reported Outcome ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Oncology Clinical Trials ◽  
Anticancer Treatment ◽  
Fit For Purpose ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Electronic Implementation

Aim: To understand the impact of anticancer treatment on oncology patients’ ability to use electronic solutions for completing patient-reported outcomes (ePRO). Materials & methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven individuals who had experienced a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Results: Participants reported that the following would impact the ability to interact with an ePRO solution: peripheral neuropathy of the hands (4/7), fatigue and/or concentration and memory issues (6/7), where they are in a treatment cycle (5/7). Approaches to improve usability included: larger, well-spaced buttons to deal with finger numbness, the ability to pause a survey and complete at a later point and presenting the recall period with every question to reduce reliance on memory. Conclusion: Symptoms associated with cancers and anticancer treatments can impact the use of technologies. The recommendations for optimizing the electronic implementation of patient-reported outcome instruments in this population provides the potential to improve data quality in oncology trials and places patient needs at the forefront to ensure ‘fit-for-purpose’ solutions.

scholarly journals The Association between Implementation an Enhanced Recovery after Cesarean Pathway with Standardized Discharge Prescriptions and Opioid Use and Pain Experience after Cesarean Delivery

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. McCoy ◽  
Sarah Gutman ◽  
Rebecca F. Hamm ◽  
Sindhu K. Srinivas
Keyword(s):  
Cesarean Delivery ◽  
Pain Control ◽  
Enhanced Recovery ◽  
Median Number ◽  
Baseline Survey ◽  
Quality Improvement Initiative ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Pain Scores ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Hospital Patients

Objective This study was aimed to evaluate opioid use after cesarean delivery (CD) and to assess implementation of an enhanced recovery after CD (ERAS-CD) pathway and its association with inpatient and postdischarge pain control and opioid use. Study Design We conducted a baseline survey of women who underwent CD from January to March 2017 at a single, urban academic hospital. Patients were called 5 to 8 days after discharge and asked about their pain and postdischarge opioid use. An ERAS-CD pathway was implemented as a quality improvement initiative, including use of nonopioid analgesia and standardization of opioid discharge prescriptions to ≤25 tablets of oxycodone of 5 mg. From November to January 2019, a postimplementation survey was conducted to assess the association between this initiative and patients' pain control and postoperative opioid use, both inpatient and postdischarge. Results Data were obtained from 152 women preimplementation (PRE) and 137 women post-implementation (POST); complete survey data were obtained from 102 women PRE and 98 women POST. The median inpatient morphine milligram equivalents consumed per patient decreased significantly from 141 [range: 90–195] PRE to 114 [range: 45–168] POST (p = 0.002). On a 0- to 10-point scale, median patient-reported pain scores at discharge decreased significantly (PRE: 7 [range: 5–8] vs. POST 5 [range: 3–7], p < 0.001). The median number of pills consumed after discharge also decreased significantly (PRE: 25 [range: 16–30] vs. POST 17.5 [range: 4–25], p = 0.001). The number of pills consumed was significantly associated with number prescribed (p < 0.001). The median number of leftover pills and number of refills did not significantly differ between groups. Median patient-reported pain scores at the week after discharge were lower in the POST group (PRE: 4 [range: 2–6] vs. POST 3[range: 1–5], p = 0.03). Conclusion Implementing an ERAS-CD pathway was associated with a significant decrease in inpatient and postdischarge opioid consumption while improving pain control. Our data suggest that even fewer pills could be prescribed for some patients. Key Points

scholarly journals A call for consensus in defining efficacy in clinical trials for opioid addiction: combined results from a systematic review and qualitative study in patients receiving pharmacological assisted therapy for opioid use disorder

Trials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittany B. Dennis ◽  
Nitika Sanger ◽  
Monica Bawor ◽  
Leen Naji ◽  
Carolyn Plater ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Addiction Treatment ◽  
Treatment Effectiveness ◽  
Methadone Treatment ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Opioid Addiction ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Patient Reported

Abstract Background Given the complex nature of opioid addiction treatment and the rising number of available opioid substitution and antagonist therapies (OSAT), there is no ‘gold standard’ measure of treatment effectiveness, and each successive trial measures a different set of outcomes which reflect success in arbitrary or opportune terms. We sought to describe the variation in current outcomes employed across clinical trials for opioid addiction, as well as determine whether a discrepancy exists between the treatment targets that patients consider important and how treatment effectiveness is measured in the literature. Methods We searched nine commonly used databases (e.g., EMBASE, MEDLINE) from inception to August 1, 2015. Outcomes used across trials were extracted and categorized according to previously established domains. To evaluate patient-reported goals of treatment, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 adults undergoing methadone treatment. Results We identified 60 trials eligible for inclusion. Once outcomes were categorized into eight broad domains (e.g., abstinence/substance abuse), we identified 21 specific outcomes with furthermore 53 subdomains and 118 measurements. Continued opioid use and treatment retention were the most commonly reported measures (46%, n = 28). The majority of patients agreed that abstinence from opioids was a primary goal in their treatment, although they also stressed goals under-reported in clinical trials. Conclusions There is inconsistency in the measures used to evaluate the effectiveness of OSATs. Individual and population level decision making is being guided by a standard of effect considered useful to researchers yet in direct conflict with what patients deem important. Trial registration PROSPERO, CRD42013006507.

Why corrections? Motivations for becoming a Canadian provincial or territorial correctional officer

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 274-286
Author(s):  
Rose Ricciardelli ◽  
Krystle Martin
Keyword(s):  
Prison Population ◽  
Correctional Officers ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Correctional Facilities ◽  
Turnover Rates ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Employment Experience ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The growing prison population and challenges related to recruiting and retaining suitable correctional officers (COs) in Canada provided the impetus for the current study. Recruitment efforts in provinces and territories often rely on a variety of diverse testing, ranging from physical fitness to in-person interviews. However, despite such efforts, turn-over rates remain high and insight into what motivates people to seek a career in correctional work continues to require elucidation. By investigating the career development of COs, the purpose of this paper is to understand why certain men seek employment in this field. Design/methodology/approach Data are derived from in-depth semi-structured interviews with male officers (n=41) who have employment experience in provincial correctional facilities. Findings Respondents discussed their initial motivations for entering the field and their career ambitions. Some entered corrections because they lacked alternative options for employment, others as a stepping stone for a different justice-oriented occupation such as policing or parole. Many were motivated by the income and benefits or had a specific vocational self-identity toward correctional work. However, nearly all respondents indicated that, over time, they no longer felt their rate of pay justly reflected the demands of the occupation, thus factors motivating field entry fail to materialize in ways that sustain long-term employee retention. Practical implications CO recruitment should target individuals with interest in the field of justice more broadly. Occupational demands of the CO occupation need to be addressed to reduce turnover. Recruitment should focus not only on new graduates but also be directed toward more mature individuals. The impact of resource intensive interview processes for candidates on turnover rates needs to be evaluated. Originality/value The authors’ focus on COs with employment experience in provincial and territorial correctional facilities, rather than federal, is justified by the lack of research on and the high rate of CO turnover in such facilities. After exploring the qualitative responses of officers, clear themes emerged that align well with natural socio-ecological systems: the self, family and community, and wider society.

The impact of intraoperative opioid use on survival after oral cancer surgery

Oral Oncology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 74 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Patino ◽  
Rafael E. Ramirez ◽  
Carlos A. Perez ◽  
Lei Feng ◽  
Pranav Kataria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Cancer ◽  
Cancer Surgery ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Clinician Emotions Surrounding Pediatric Oncology Patient Deterioration

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dylan E. Graetz ◽  
Emily Giannars ◽  
Erica C. Kaye ◽  
Marcela Garza ◽  
Gia Ferrara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pediatric Oncology ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Clinical Deterioration ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Oncology Patient ◽  
Research Hospital ◽  
Pediatric Oncology Patient ◽  
Patient Deterioration ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundPediatric oncology patients have a high rate of clinical deterioration frequently requiring critical care. Patient deterioration events are distressing for clinicians, but little is known about how Pediatric Early Warning Systems (PEWS) impact clinicians’ emotional responses to deterioration events.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 83 nurses, pediatricians, oncologists, and intensive care clinicians who had recently participated in a patient deterioration event at two pediatric oncology hospitals of different resource-levels: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (N = 42 participants) in Memphis, Tennessee or Unidad Nacional de Oncología Pediátrica (N = 41 participants) in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Interviews were conducted in the participants’ native language (English or Spanish), transcribed, and translated into English. Each transcript was coded by two researchers and analyzed for thematic content.ResultsEmotions around patient deterioration including concern, fear, and frustration were reported across all disciplines at both hospitals. Concern was often triggered by an elevated PEWS score and usually resulted in increased attention, which reassured bedside clinicians that patients were receiving necessary interventions. However, persistently elevated PEWS scores, particularly at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, occasionally resulted in a false sense of relief, diminishing clinician attention and negatively impacting patient care. Nurses at both institutions described how PEWS amplified their voices, engendering confidence and empowerment, two of the only positive emotions described in the study.ConclusionClinicians experienced a range of emotions while caring for high-risk patients in the setting of clinical deterioration. These emotions have the potential to contribute to compassion fatigue and burnout, or to resilience. Acknowledgment and further investigation of the complex interplay between PEWS and clinician emotions are necessary to maximize the impact of PEWS on patient safety while simultaneously supporting staff wellbeing.

2 Impact of Multimodal Analgesia on Critically Ill Burn Patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S5-S5
Author(s):  
Sierra R Young ◽  
Jeremiah Duby ◽  
Erin Louie
Keyword(s):  
Pain Control ◽  
Total Body Surface Area ◽  
Oral Morphine ◽  
Multimodal Analgesia ◽  
Power Calculation ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Icu Discharge ◽  
Opioid Medications ◽  
Oral Morphine Equivalent ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction Opioids are considered the cornerstone of treatment for post-operative burn pain. However, detrimental adverse effects of opioid use include over-sedation, respiratory depression and dependence. Multimodal analgesia is an alternative method of pain control that utilizes a combination of opioid and non-opioid medications. Multimodal analgesia offers different mechanisms of action which may be beneficial in burn-injured patients. This study examines the impact of multimodal therapy for post-operative pain control in a burn intensive care unit (BICU). Methods This retrospective cohort study was performed at an academic burn center between 2012 and 2018. Consecutively admitted patients with burns greater than or equal to 10% total body surface area (TBSA) and BICU length of stay (LOS) greater than seven days were eligible for inclusion. Patients were excluded if they received an opioid continuous infusion greater than 48 hours. Patients treated with multimodal analgesia were compared to those treated with opioids alone. The total oral morphine equivalent (OME) dose was calculated for each 24-hour period for 5 days after a grafting surgery. Secondary endpoints included pain scores, BICU LOS, and ventilator days. Data analysis was performed with descriptive statistics. A power calculation determined that 60 patients per group were needed to detect a 30% difference in the primary endpoint. Results There were 100 patients in the non-multimodal group and 100 patients in the multimodal group. Mean cumulative OME dose was significantly lower in the multimodal group (1,028 mg vs. 1,438 mg, P &lt; 0.002). Patients with over 20% TBSA burns had a larger reduction in mean OME doses in the multimodal group (1,097 mg vs. 1,624 mg, P = 0.0049) compared to patients with 10% to 20% TBSA burns (949 mg vs 1,282 mg, P = 0.057). Utilizing more multimodal agents was not associated with lower OME doses. There was no difference in pain score on post-operative day 5 (5.5 + 2.3 vs. 6.2 + 2.2, P=0.07) or at ICU discharge (4.7 + 2.4 vs 4.7 + 2.8, P = 0.99). There was no difference in other secondary outcomes. Conclusions The use of multimodal analgesia significantly reduced cumulative OME doses without compromising pain control. Applicability of Research to Practice Multimodal analgesia may be a beneficial adjunct to burn pain management to mitigate opioid use without compromising pain control.

A randomized trial of medical cannabis (MC) in patients with advanced cancer (AC) to assess impact on opioid use and cancer-related symptoms.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 109-109
Author(s):  
Dylan M. Zylla ◽  
Justin Eklund ◽  
Grace Gilmore ◽  
Alissa Gavenda ◽  
Gabriela Vazquez-Benitez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pain Control ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Opioid Dose ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Oncology Care

109 Background: Higher pain and greater long-term opioid requirements have been associated with shorter survival and decreased quality of life (QOL) in patients with AC. Routine use of MC is limited by a lack of rigorous scientific data and concerns about side effects, legal ramifications, and cost. Methods: 30 patients with stage IV cancer requiring opioids were randomized 1:1 to early cannabis (EC, n=15) vs. delayed cannabis (DC, n=15). The EC group was provided with 3 months (3M) of MC at no charge, while the DC group received standard oncology care without MC for the first 3M. Patients met with licensed pharmacists at one of two MC manufacturers to determine optimal MC dosing, formulation, and route. Patients completed monthly pain logs, opioid/MC logs, and validated Patient-Reported Symptom Monitoring surveys. Results: A higher proportion of EC patients achieved a reduction in opioid use and improved pain control. On average over a 3M window, EC patients did not require opioid dose escalation, had lower mean pain, and had similar QOL compared to DC patients. Estimated mean daily THC and CBD dose at 3M was 76 mg (range 5-186 mg) and 36 mg (range <1-516 mg), respectively. Mean perceived benefit of MC was 5.1 and mean perceived negative impact was 2.7 (1 = no benefit/negative effects, 7 = a great deal of benefit/negative effects). 33% of patients died during the anticipated 6-month study period and patient compliance with study logs limited analysis. Conclusions: Randomized studies of MC in the oncology setting are feasible, but rigorous data collection is challenging. The addition of MC to standard oncology care in patients with AC was well-tolerated and may lead to improved pain control and lower opioid requirements. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals The Impact of NSAID Use After Lumbar Fusion Surgery on Fusion Rate and Complications: A Meta-Analysis

Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yahya Othman ◽  
Avani Vaishnav ◽  
Steven Mcanany ◽  
Sravisht Iyer ◽  
Todd Albert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Spine Surgery ◽  
Spinal Surgery ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Pain Scores ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
The Impact

Abstract INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study is to compile data presented in literature regarding the efficacy of incorporating NSAIDs in the postoperative course for patients undergoing spine surgery, in particular its impact on pain levels, opioid use, complications, and hospital length of stay METHODS This is a meta-analysis and systematic review. A literature search was conducted using the backbone search [spinal surgery] [Nsaid] [complications]. Criteria for inclusion are as follows: use of NSAIDs for postoperative pain management of spinal surgery, comparison between NSAID and NSAID-free cohort, and reporting on any of pain scores, hospital opioid use, hospital length of stay, complications rate, and operative outcomes. RESULTS Out of 799 studies, 19 studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 1522 patient were included in this analysis. The studies included randomized controlled trials, Prospective and retrospective cohorts. Operations included discectomies, laminectomies, and fusions. Most commonly regimens included the NSAID Ketorelac, as in injection given immediately postoperatively. Patients that received NSAID analgesia postoperatively had significantly lower VAS pain scores at 1 and 12 h postoperatively. This group also had a significantly lower opioid consumption and shorter hospital length of stay. A total of 7 fusion studies reported on arthrodesis, showing a significantly lower odds of fusion after NSAIDs use, however after subgrouping according to smoking, this difference proves to be no longer significant. CONCLUSION Incorporation of NSAIDs into the postoperative regimen for analgesia in patients undergoing spine surgery is an effective approach in reducing hospital length of stay, patient reported pain scores, hospital opioid use, and has no increased risk of complications. Furthermore, use of NSAIDs in the nonsmoking population does not seem to affect arthrodesis rates in patients undergoing spine surgery.

scholarly journals Full A Call for Consensus in Defining Efficacy in Clinical Trials for Opioid Addiction: Combined Results from a Systematic Review and Qualitative Study in Patients Receiving Pharmacological Assisted Therapy for Opioid Use Disorder

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittany B. Dennis ◽  
Nitika Sanger ◽  
Monica Bawor ◽  
Leen Naji ◽  
Andrew Worster ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Addiction Treatment ◽  
Treatment Effectiveness ◽  
Methadone Treatment ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Opioid Addiction ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Patient Reported

Abstract Background Given the complex nature of opioid addiction treatment and the rising number of available opioid substitution and antagonist therapies (OSAT), there is no ‘gold standard’ measure of treatment effectiveness, and each successive trial measures a different set of outcomes which reflect success in arbitrary or opportune terms.We sought to describe the variation in current outcomes employed across clinical trials for opioid addiction, as well as determine whether a discrepancy exists between the treatment targets that patients consider important and how treatment effectiveness is measured in the literature. Methods We searched nine commonly used databases (e.g. EMBASE, MEDLINE) from inception to August 1, 2015. Outcomes used across trials were extracted and categorized according to previously established domains. To evaluate patient reported goals of treatment, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 adults undergoing methadone treatment. Results We identified 60 trials eligible for inclusion. Once outcomes were categorized into eight broad domains (e.g. abstinence/substance abuse), we identified 21 specific outcomes with furthermore 53 subdomains and 118 measurements. Continued opioid use and treatment retention were the most commonly reported measures (46%, n=28). The majority of patients agreed that abstinence from opioids was a primary goal in their treatment, however they also stressed goals under-reported in clinical trials. Conclusion There is inconsistency in the measures used to evaluate the effectiveness of OSATs. Individual and population level decision making is being guided by a standard of effect considered useful to researchers yet in direct conflict with what patients deem important. PROSPERO ID CRD42013006507

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