Table 5.
Frequency of following recommended practices performed while monitoring patients on opioids (shown in decreasing order of frequency in the 2018 survey).
| Year | Frequency of Responses, % | Total Responses, n | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Never, <25% | 25% to 75% | >75%, Always | |||
| Observe for aberrant drug-related behavior such as requesting higher doses or accessing opioids from other sources | 2010 2018 |
2 1 |
6 3 |
93 96 |
651 168 |
| Assess for specific adverse effects (e.g., nausea, constipation, drowsiness, dizziness) | 2010 2018 |
3 1 |
13 10 |
84 89 |
648 168 |
| Advise the patient to use caution while driving or operating machinery. | 2010 2018 |
5 1 |
14 11 |
82 88 |
647 168 |
| Assess patient’s level of function (e.g., social, recreational, occupational) | 2010 2018 |
4 2 |
19 15 |
77 83 |
652 168 |
| If patient has unacceptable side effects, try a lower dose | 2010 2018 |
14 8 |
34 30 |
53 61 |
645 168 |
| If patient has unacceptable side effects, try a different opioid | 2010 2018 |
7 8 |
30 33 |
63 60 |
649 168 |
| Assess patient’s level of pain intensity using a scale | 2010 2018 |
28 17 † |
25 26 |
47 57 † |
652 168 |
| Do routine or urine drug screening | 2010 2018 |
58 20 † |
20 24 |
22 57 † |
653 168 |
| (NEW) If patient is experiencing a serious challenge in tapering, try a referral to a formal multidisciplinary program | 2010 2018 |
NA 35 |
NA 23 |
NA 42 |
NA 167 |
| If patient has insufficient pain relief, taper off opioid and try another modality | 2010 2018 |
26 15 † |
47 50 |
27 35 |
643 168 |
| If patient has insufficient pain relief, increase the dose | 2010 2018 |
4 13 |
43 59 † |
53 28 † |
647 166 |
| If patient has insufficient pain relief, try a different opioid | 2010 2018 |
7 19 † |
30 58 † |
63 23 † |
649 166 |
| Ask patient to bring remaining medication to check compliance with the prescription | 2010 2018 |
44 49 |
29 32 |
28 19 |
646 167 |
Percent of respondents indicating they perform practices never or in <25% of their patients, in 25% to 50% of their patients, or in >75% of their patients or always. † Difference is 10% or larger. Number of respondents per question varied from 166 to 168 physicians. (NEW) New questions added to the survey. NA: not applicable.