Category: Federal Forum Posters
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate pain outcomes and use of adjunctive therapies (i.e. non-opioid medications and non-pharmacological interventions) over two years in Veterans receiving greater than 100 morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) prior to March 1, 2016 who may or may not have been tapered with the implementation of Maine Public Law (PL)Chapter 488. We hypothesize that there will be no difference in self-reported pain scores following opioid dose tapers in veterans receiving greater than 100 MMEs prior to March 1, 2016.
Methods: This study will be a two-year retrospective chart review of patients that were receiving chronic opioids within the VA Maine Healthcare System. A complete list of all chronic opioid users, defined by the opioid therapy risk report (OTRR) was downloaded from the VHA support service center (VSSC) monthly since March 30, 2016. All chronic opioid patients over the age of 18 years old will be included in the study if they were taking above 100 MMEs on March 1, 2016. Patients will be excluded if they were taking below 100 MMEs in March 1, 2016 or were prescribed an opioid for the following indications: opioid use disorder, cancer pain, hospice or palliative care. Information about each patient’s MME prescription history, self-reported pain scores, use of adjunctive therapies, and current care status within the VA Maine Healthcare System will be recorded. After data collection is complete, the data from each patient will be compared from the beginning of the trial period (March 1, 2016), to the end of the trial period (March 1, 2018), using the paired t-test and chi-square analyses, in order to determine significant differences. This study is pending Institutional Review Board approval.
Results: not applicable
Conclusion: not applicable
Gabrielle Hill
– PGY1 Pharmacy Resident, VA Maine Healthcare System, Methuen, MA143 Views