Patients' Experiences With Prescription Opioid Use for Acute and/or Chronic Pain Management: A Qualitative Study
Author(s)
Judith J. Stephenson, BS, MS1, Rebecca Conto, MA2;
1Carelon, Principal Scientist, WILMINGTON, DE, USA, 2Carelon Research, Wilmington, DE, USA
1Carelon, Principal Scientist, WILMINGTON, DE, USA, 2Carelon Research, Wilmington, DE, USA
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: To better understand patients’ experiences with prescription opioid use for acute and/or chronic pain management.
METHODS: This qualitative semi-structured telephone interview study was conducted among adult patients who were current and/or recent users of prescription opioid medications for acute and/or chronic pain management. Trained facilitators conducted the 60-minute interviews using a standardized discussion guide. Interviews were audio-taped and transcribed for analytic purposes. Two geographically diverse data sources were used to recruit patients: 1) a global network practitioner platform was used to identify community sites for recruiting patients from underserved populations, and 2) pharmacy claims in the Healthcare Integrated Research Database identified survey-eligible Medicare Advantage and commercially insured patients. Thematic content analysis identified major themes and illustrative quotes.
RESULTS: Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 191 patients: 86% current and 14% recent opioid users, 65% female with a mean age of 54 years. Over 33% reported minority race and ethnicity, 25% had a high school education or less, 52% had household incomes <$50,000, and 16% reported some form of Medicaid or no insurance. Examples of the eleven identified themes follow. General feelings towards opioids: Most participants expressed positive or neutral attitudes and tended to connect their opioid medication use with improved quality of life. Prescribing decisions: Participants with acute pain conditions commonly reported non-involvement in prescribing decision-making, whereas half of participants with a chronic condition reported decision-making involvement. Mood changes: Approximately 25% reported experiencing mood changes while taking or shortly after stopping their opioid medication, most often increased irritability.
CONCLUSIONS: Most participants had positive or neutral feelings about using prescription opioid medications. Participants tended to associate opioid use with improved quality of life and felt their use was helpful in managing their pain. Less than 5% expressed negative opinions about their use.
METHODS: This qualitative semi-structured telephone interview study was conducted among adult patients who were current and/or recent users of prescription opioid medications for acute and/or chronic pain management. Trained facilitators conducted the 60-minute interviews using a standardized discussion guide. Interviews were audio-taped and transcribed for analytic purposes. Two geographically diverse data sources were used to recruit patients: 1) a global network practitioner platform was used to identify community sites for recruiting patients from underserved populations, and 2) pharmacy claims in the Healthcare Integrated Research Database identified survey-eligible Medicare Advantage and commercially insured patients. Thematic content analysis identified major themes and illustrative quotes.
RESULTS: Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 191 patients: 86% current and 14% recent opioid users, 65% female with a mean age of 54 years. Over 33% reported minority race and ethnicity, 25% had a high school education or less, 52% had household incomes <$50,000, and 16% reported some form of Medicaid or no insurance. Examples of the eleven identified themes follow. General feelings towards opioids: Most participants expressed positive or neutral attitudes and tended to connect their opioid medication use with improved quality of life. Prescribing decisions: Participants with acute pain conditions commonly reported non-involvement in prescribing decision-making, whereas half of participants with a chronic condition reported decision-making involvement. Mood changes: Approximately 25% reported experiencing mood changes while taking or shortly after stopping their opioid medication, most often increased irritability.
CONCLUSIONS: Most participants had positive or neutral feelings about using prescription opioid medications. Participants tended to associate opioid use with improved quality of life and felt their use was helpful in managing their pain. Less than 5% expressed negative opinions about their use.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
PCR125
Topic
Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Patient-reported Outcomes & Quality of Life Outcomes
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Systemic Disorders/Conditions (Anesthesia, Auto-Immune Disorders (n.e.c.), Hematological Disorders (non-oncologic), Pain)