Opioid Misuse: An Organizational Response While Managing Cancer-Related Pain.

Publication/Presentation Date

4-1-2020

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Opioids are commonly prescribed to manage cancer pain. Similar to the general population, patients with cancer are not excluded from the risk for opioid misuse and dependence. This situation can contribute to clinician reluctance to prescribe and manage pain using opioids.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of how opioid misuse may affect pain management in patients with cancer and to describe a comprehensive cancer center's approach to safely managing cancer pain.

METHODS: Based on a literature review, the project team developed a stewardship program. Project components included selecting a validated screening tool for risk of opioid misuse, determining if a history of addiction affects pain management in patients with cancer, and establishing a task force to focus on the opioid crisis and to follow the Joint Commission's revised pain assessment and management standards.

FINDINGS: The project established a hospitalwide opioid stewardship program. Through the use of a multidisciplinary, universal precautions approach to assessing misuse in all patients with cancer who are prescribed opioids, healthcare teams can potentially reduce risks associated with misuse while safely managing cancer pain.

Volume

24

Issue

2

First Page

170

Last Page

176

ISSN

1538-067X

Disciplines

Nursing | Oncology

PubMedID

32196013

Peer Reviewed for front end display

Peer-Reviewed

Department(s)

Patient Care Services / Nursing

Document Type

Article

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