Trends of opioid prescription in cancer patients utilizing telemedicine: a retrospective study

Vishal Bansal; Edward Pingenot; Billy Huh; Saba Javed

doi:10.2217/pmt-2023-0036

Trends of opioid prescription in cancer patients utilizing telemedicine: a retrospective study

Vishal Bansal, Edward Pingenot, Billy Huh, Saba Javed

Pain Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Aim: Prescribing patterns among healthcare practitioners remain a recurring theme of interest in the opioid crisis. This study aims to provide insight on opioid prescribing patterns for cancer pain in telemedicine and in-person encounters during COVID-19. Materials & methods: A retrospective chart review of 1000 encounters (500 telemedicine and 500 in-person) at an academic tertiary care comprehensive cancer center. Results: On average, overall, significantly higher narcotics (in morphine milligram equivalents [MME]) prescribed for patients receiving telemedicine services. In-person encounters had a significantly higher proportion of narcotic (in MME) increases in subsequent visits. Conclusion: Our institution continues to adapt telehealth services as an additional care venue and deeper insight helps mitigate development of maladaptive opioid prescribing patterns.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	509-517
Number of pages	9
Journal	Pain management
Volume	13
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2217/pmt-2023-0036
State	Published - Sep 1 2023

Keywords

COVID-19
MME
opioid crisis
opioid prescribing patterns
telehealth
telemedicine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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10.2217/pmt-2023-0036

Cite this

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title = "Trends of opioid prescription in cancer patients utilizing telemedicine: a retrospective study",

abstract = "Aim: Prescribing patterns among healthcare practitioners remain a recurring theme of interest in the opioid crisis. This study aims to provide insight on opioid prescribing patterns for cancer pain in telemedicine and in-person encounters during COVID-19. Materials & methods: A retrospective chart review of 1000 encounters (500 telemedicine and 500 in-person) at an academic tertiary care comprehensive cancer center. Results: On average, overall, significantly higher narcotics (in morphine milligram equivalents [MME]) prescribed for patients receiving telemedicine services. In-person encounters had a significantly higher proportion of narcotic (in MME) increases in subsequent visits. Conclusion: Our institution continues to adapt telehealth services as an additional care venue and deeper insight helps mitigate development of maladaptive opioid prescribing patterns.",

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AU - Bansal, Vishal

AU - Pingenot, Edward

AU - Huh, Billy

AU - Javed, Saba

PY - 2023/9/1

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N2 - Aim: Prescribing patterns among healthcare practitioners remain a recurring theme of interest in the opioid crisis. This study aims to provide insight on opioid prescribing patterns for cancer pain in telemedicine and in-person encounters during COVID-19. Materials & methods: A retrospective chart review of 1000 encounters (500 telemedicine and 500 in-person) at an academic tertiary care comprehensive cancer center. Results: On average, overall, significantly higher narcotics (in morphine milligram equivalents [MME]) prescribed for patients receiving telemedicine services. In-person encounters had a significantly higher proportion of narcotic (in MME) increases in subsequent visits. Conclusion: Our institution continues to adapt telehealth services as an additional care venue and deeper insight helps mitigate development of maladaptive opioid prescribing patterns.

AB - Aim: Prescribing patterns among healthcare practitioners remain a recurring theme of interest in the opioid crisis. This study aims to provide insight on opioid prescribing patterns for cancer pain in telemedicine and in-person encounters during COVID-19. Materials & methods: A retrospective chart review of 1000 encounters (500 telemedicine and 500 in-person) at an academic tertiary care comprehensive cancer center. Results: On average, overall, significantly higher narcotics (in morphine milligram equivalents [MME]) prescribed for patients receiving telemedicine services. In-person encounters had a significantly higher proportion of narcotic (in MME) increases in subsequent visits. Conclusion: Our institution continues to adapt telehealth services as an additional care venue and deeper insight helps mitigate development of maladaptive opioid prescribing patterns.

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Trends of opioid prescription in cancer patients utilizing telemedicine: a retrospective study

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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