Journal of Pain Research (Jan 2020)
Women’s Perspectives On Provider Education Regarding Opioid Use
Abstract
Jolaade Kalinowski,1 Barbara C Wallace,2 Natasha J Williams,1 Tanya M Spruill1 1Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; 2Department of Health Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, USACorrespondence: Jolaade KalinowskiNYU School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, 7-21A, New York, NY 10016, USATel +1 646 501-3437Email [email protected]: To elucidate women’s experiences with opioid medications and their perspectives on provider education regarding opioid use, risks and safety.Methods: Women with a self-reported history of pain who had been prescribed opioids were recruited in 2016 using a convenience sampling approach that included an online social media campaign. Participants (N=154) completed online surveys and open-ended questions regarding their experiences with pain and opioids, and their perspectives on the quality of education they received from their providers.Results: Participants reported receiving insufficient education about opioid-related side effects, as reflected in both ratings for the quantity and quality of education they received from their providers. Non-white participants reported lower quantity and poorer quality of provider education (p<0.05). Themes identified from the qualitative data included frustrations with pain management options, fear of opioids, stigma associated with opioid use, and the need for improved provider education and patient-provider communication.Conclusion: Findings suggest that from a patient’s perspective, there is a need for enhanced patient-provider communication and education regarding pain management and potential opioid-related side effects. Improved physician communication and education could promote shared decision-making and result in enhanced satisfaction with care and health outcomes.Keywords: opioids, pain management, patient-provider communication, women’s health
