scholarly journals Impact of Urine Drug Screening on No Shows and Dropouts among Chronic Pain Patients: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (2;2) ◽  
pp. 89-100
Author(s):  
Parthasarathy Krishnamurthy

Background: The last 2 decades have seen a substantial increase in both the prescription of opioids for managing chronic pain, and an increase in opioid-related deaths in the US. Urine drug screening (UDS) is the de facto monitoring tool aimed at detecting and deterring opioid misuse. Objective: We study whether administering UDS on pain patients influences post-screening behavior of no-shows and dropouts. Study Design: Observational cohort study of electronic medical records. Setting: Single urban academic pain-clinic. Methods: A retrospective cohort comparison of patients receiving UDS versus those not receiving UDS was conducted on the entire sample as well as in the propensity score-matched samples in which matching was based on age, gender, pain-score, procedure-scheduled, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), pulse, temperature, physician ID, year of visit, psychology referral, and opioid prescription in the first visit. In addition, we conducted within-subjects logistic-regression to study no-shows and non-proportional hazards survival modeling to study dropout. Results: Analyses of 4,448 clinic visits by 723 pain patients indicated that UDS exposure in the first visit is associated with increased risk of no-show in the second visit (OR = 2.73, P < .0001); no-show rate was 10.24% for those without UDS compared to 23.75% for those with a UDS. Among those tested, the no-show rate was higher for those testing positive for illicit substances (34.57%) than for those testing negative (21.74%). These findings were replicated in 8 different propensity-score matched subsamples aimed at addressing potential nonrandom selection, as well as in within-subject analysis accounting for individual-level no-show propensity. Non-proportional hazards survival analysis shows that risk of dropout increased by 100.3% with every additional UDS (HR 95% CI: 1.54 to 2.61). Limitations: Retrospective design, non-randomized sample, single-setting. Conclusions: The results indicate that UDS is associated with increased no-shows and dropout from clinic subject to limitations of observational studies such as selection bias and confound by unobserved variables. These results serve as a call for additional prospective randomized studies to understand the impact of UDS, and where the patients might go when they dropout from the clinic. Key words: Chronic pain, opioid monitoring, UDS, urine-drug screening, no-show, dropout, adherence, propensity-score matching

Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (9) ◽  
pp. 539
Author(s):  
Suso-Ribera ◽  
Martínez-Borba ◽  
Viciano ◽  
Cano-García ◽  
García-Palacios

Background and objectives: Social factors have demonstrated to affect pain intensity and quality of life of pain patients, such as social support or the attitudes and responses of the main informal caregiver. Similarly, pain has negative consequences on the patient’s social environment. However, it is still rare to include social factors in pain research and treatment. This study compares patient and caregivers’ accuracy, as well as explores personality and health correlates of empathic accuracy in patients and caregivers. Materials and Methods: The study comprised 292 chronic pain patients from the Pain Clinic of the Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Spain (main age = 59.4 years; 66.8% females) and their main informal caregivers (main age = 53.5 years; 51.0% females; 68.5% couples). Results: Patients were relatively inaccurate at estimating the interference of pain on their counterparts (t = 2.16; p = 0.032), while informal caregivers estimated well the patient’s status (all differences p > 0.05). Empathic accuracy on patient and caregiver status did not differ across types of relationship (i.e., couple or other; all differences p > 0.05). Sex differences in estimation only occurred for disagreement in pain severity, with female caregivers showing higher overestimation (t = 2.18; p = 0.030). Patients’ health status and caregivers’ personality were significant correlates of empathic accuracy. Overall, estimation was poorer when patients presented higher physical functioning. Similarly, caregiver had more difficulties in estimating the patient’s pain interference as patient general and mental health increased (r = 0.16, p = 0.008, and r = 0.15, p = 0.009, respectively). Caregiver openness was linked to a more accurate estimation of a patient’s status (r = 0.20, p < 0.001), while caregiver agreeableness was related to a patient’s greater accuracy of their caregivers’ pain interference (r = 0.15, p = 0.009). Conclusions: Patients poorly estimate the impact of their illness compared to caregivers, regardless of their relationship. Some personality characteristics in the caregiver and health outcomes in the patient are associated with empathic inaccuracy, which should guide clinicians when selecting who requires more active training on empathy in pain settings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen A. Morin ◽  
Frank Vojtesek ◽  
Shreedhar Acharya ◽  
David C. Marsh

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate epidemiological trends of co-use patterns of amphetamine-type stimulants and opioids and the impact of co-use patterns on Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) retention in Ontario, Canada. The secondary objective was to assess geographical variation in amphetamine-type stimulant use in Northern Rural, Northern Urban, Southern Rural and Southern Urban Areas of Ontario.Methods: A retrospective cohort study on 32,674 adults receiving OAT from ~70 clinics was conducted between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2020, in Ontario, Canada. Patients were divided into four groups base on the proportion of positive urine drug screening results for amphetamine-type stimulants during treatment: group 1 (0–25%), group 2 (25–50%), group 3 (50–75%), and groups 4 (75–100%). A Fractional logistic regression model was used to evaluate differences over time in amphetamine-type stimulant use with urine drug screening results. A Cox Proportional Hazard Ratio model was used to calculate the impact of amphetamine-type stimulant use on retention in OAT and adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, drug use and clinical factors. Lastly, a logistic regression model was used on a subgroup of patients to assess the impact of geography on amphetamine-type stimulant use in Northern Rural, Northern Urban, Southern Rural and Southern Urban Areas of Ontario.Results: There were significant differences in amphetamine-type stimulant positive urine drug screening results year-over-year from 2015 to 2020. Significant differences were observed between amphetamine-type stimulant groups with regards to sociodemographic, clinical and drug use factors. Compared to those with no amphetamine-type stimulant use, the number of days retained in OAT treatment for amphetamine-type stimulant users was reduced (hazard ratio 1.19; 95% confidence interval = 1.07–1.17; p &lt; 0.001). Lastly, an adjusted logistic regression model showed a significant increase in the likelihood of amphetamine-type stimulant use in Northern Rural regions compared to Southern Urban areas.Conclusion: There was a significant increase in amphetamine-type stimulant use among individuals in OAT from 2014 to 2020, associated with decreased OAT retention. Research is required to determine if tailored strategies specific to individuals in OAT who use amphetamine-type stimulants can improve OAT outcomes.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farah Tahsin ◽  
Kristen A. Morin ◽  
Frank Vojtesek ◽  
David C. Marsh

Abstract Background The cascade of care framework is an effective way to measure attrition at various stages of engagement in Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT). The primary objective of the study was to describe the cascade of care for individuals who have accessed OAT from a network of specialized addiction clinics in Ontario, Canada. The secondary objectives were to evaluate correlates associated with retention in OAT at various stages and the impact of patients' location of the residence on retention in OAT. Design: A multi-clinic retrospective cohort study was conducted using electronic medical record (EMR) data from the largest network of OAT clinics in Canada (70 clinics) from 2014-2020. Study participants included all individuals who received OAT from the network of clinics during the study period. Measurements: In this study, four stages of the cascade of care framework were operationalized to identify treatment engagement patterns, including patients retained within 90 days, 90 to 365 days, one to two years, and more than two years. Correlates associated with OAT retention for 90 days, 90 to 365 days, one to two years, and more than two years were also evaluated and compared across rural and urban areas in northern and southern Ontario. Results A total of 32,487 individuals were included in the study. Compared to individuals who were retained in OAT for 90 days, individuals who were retained for 90 to 365 days, one to two years, or more than two years were more likely to have a higher number of treatment attempts, a higher number of average monthly urine drug screening and a lower proportion of positive urine drug screening results for other drug use. Conclusion Distinct sociodemographic and clinical factors are likely to influence treatment retention at various stages of engagement along the OAT continuum. Research is required to determine if tailored strategies specific to people at different stages of engagement have the potential to improve outcomes of OAT.


2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 255-255
Author(s):  
P. Vartiainen ◽  
T. Heiskanen ◽  
R.P. Roine ◽  
E. Kalso

Abstract Aims To assess the change in quality of life and factors predicting this change in 1425 chronic pain patients treated in a multidisciplinary pain clinic. Methods This is an observational follow-up study using the 15D generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instrument. Patients filled in the HRQoL questionnaire at baseline, and 6 and 12 months after discharge. To assess if mental factors predicted treatment success, the changes in the overall 15D score were compared and related to the baseline variables of depression and distress. The group of patients, who scored 4 or 5 on the 1–5 scale for the depression and distress dimensions of the 15D instrument, were considered mentally distressed (N =199). They were compared with the non-distressed patients (i.e. those who scored 1; N = 401). Results Pain was associated to depression and distress: 85.4% of mentally distressed patients scored 4 or 5 also on the discomfort and symptoms dimension, vs. 51.4% of the non-distressed (p < 0.001). The mean 15D score of the mentally distressed patients improved statistically significantly more (from 0.572 to 0.636, N =141) during the first six months after treatment compared with the 15D of those who were not mentally distressed, who improved only marginally (0.790–0.803, N = 294; p < 0.001). Conclusions Patients with more severe depression or distress at baseline appear to gain more from the treatment than those who have less mental distress. In our ongoing study more baseline factors will be evaluated to assess their effect on the success of treatment.


2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 18???22
Author(s):  
Albert Jekelis

2021 ◽  
Vol 186 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 502-505
Author(s):  
Justin J Stewart ◽  
Diane Flynn ◽  
Alana D Steffen ◽  
Dale Langford ◽  
Honor McQuinn ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Introduction Soldiers are expected to deploy worldwide and must be medically ready in order to accomplish their mission. Soldiers unable to deploy for an extended period of time because of chronic pain or other conditions undergo an evaluation for medical retirement. A retrospective analysis of existing longitudinal data from an Interdisciplinary Pain Management Center (IPMC) was used to evaluate the temporal relationship between the time of initial duty restriction and referral for comprehensive pain care to being evaluated for medical retirement. Methods Patients were adults (&gt;18 years old) and were cared for in an IPMC at least once between May 1, 2014 and February 28, 2018. A total of 1,764 patients were included in the final analysis. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the impact of duration between date of first duty restriction documentation and IPMC referral to the outcome variable of establishment of a permanent 3 (P3) profile. Results The duration between date of first duty restriction and IPMC referral showed a curvilinear relationship to probability of a P3 profile. According to our model, a longer duration before referral is associated with an increased probability of a subsequent P3 profile with the highest probability peaking at 19 months. The probability of P3 declines gradually for those who were referred later. Discussion This is the first time the relationship between time of initial duty restriction, referral to an IPMC, and subsequent P3 or higher profile has been tested. Future research is needed to examine medical conditions listed on the profile to see how they might contribute to the cause of referral to the IPMC. Conclusion A longer duration between initial duty restriction and referral to IPMC was associated with higher odds of subsequent P3 status for up to 19 months. Referral to an IPMC for comprehensive pain care early in the course of chronic pain conditions may reduce the likelihood of P3 profile and eventual medical retirement of soldiers.


2007 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
William B. Jaffee ◽  
Elisa Trucco ◽  
Sharon Levy ◽  
Roger D. Weiss

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