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.

Keywords::

• COVID-19
• MME
• opioid crisis
• opioid prescribing patterns
• telehealth
• telemedicine

Author contributions

V Bansal – contributions meet authorship criteria (a), (b), (c) and (d) as outlined in the Author Disclosure Form. E Pingenot III – contributions meet authorship criteria (a), (b), (c) and (d) as outlined in the Author Disclosure Form. B Huh – contributions meet authorship criteria (a), (b), (c) and (d) as outlined in the Author Disclosure Form. S Javed – contributions meet authorship criteria (a), (b), (c) and (d) as outlined in the Author Disclosure Form

Financial disclosure

The authors have no financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Competing interests disclosure

The authors have no competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, stock ownership or options and expert testimony.

Writing disclosure

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval for this study protocol. Since this was a retrospectives chart review, a waiver of consent (A waiver of authorization) was obtained due to the retrospective nature of this review, involving no diagnostic or therapeutic intervention and no direct contact with the patients.