What do patients with chronic non-cancer pain know about the opiates that they are prescribed?

¿Qué saben los pacientes con dolor crónico no oncológico sobre los opioides que les formulan?

Introduction: As pain is the leading reason for medical consultation worldwide, the use of opioids in the management of non-cancer related chronic pain has increased, and poor patient knowledge has led to opioid misuse.
Objective: We describe the risks, adverse effects, attitudes, and practices of out-patients prescribed with opioids for non-cancer related chronic pain in a fourth level hospital in Bogotá DC, Colombia. A two-phase descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. First, a questionnaire, approved by an evaluating panel, was constructed using the Delphi methodology. Second, the questionnaire was applied in the study population: 81 patients between September and December 2014; females 71.6%, mean age 56.6 years (SD: 15.2), and back pain (34.6%) being the most frequent diagnosis. The most commonly prescribed opioid medication was hydrocodone (24.1%).
Results: The most commonly recognised side effect was constipation (60.5%); 28.4% do not know if driving is restricted, and 34.6% believe driving is allowed; 6.5% again consulted again due to persistent pain. 23.5% keep the remaining medication after it is changed or stopped, while 9.9% gives it to someone else.
Conclusions: Poor patient knowledge on restricted activities, potential side effects and proper opioid medication disposal was detected.

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