Changing residents' beliefs and concerns about treating chronic noncancer pain with opioids: evaluation of a pilot workshop.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if a pilot phase workshop influenced residents' beliefs and concerns about using opioids for chronic noncancer pain.


METHODS
Pre- and post-survey questionnaire.


METHODS
University residency program.


METHODS
Seventy-two Medicine and Medicine-Pediatrics residents.


METHODS
Participation in a 4-hour workshop based on adult learning theory.


METHODS
Residents' pre- and post-workshop concerns, feelings, and beliefs about the efficacy and safety of opioids for chronic noncancer pain (low back pain), and barriers to prescribing them (paired t-tests).


RESULTS
On a scale of 1 = least to 10 = most, residents' concerns about addiction risk from opioids in patients with chronic noncancer pain dropped significantly (P < 0.001) after the workshop (Pre 6.02 to Post 3.07). Similar changes were observed regarding concerns about abuse (5.61 to 3.92), side effects (4.88 to 2.88), limiting use of other treatments (5.41 to 3.60), sanctioning (State Board; 4.27 to 3.71; Legal 4.22 to 3.43), and drawing criticism from attending staff (4.50 to 2.77), with P < 0.001 for each. Their beliefs about efficacy and safety of opioids for chronic noncancer pain increased (Pre 4.96 to Post 7.40), and they were more comfortable prescribing them (4.30 to 6.82), with P < 0.001 for both. After the workshop, nine of 13 barriers to prescribing opioids for chronic noncancer pain were significantly (P < 0.05) lower.


CONCLUSIONS
Residents' beliefs and concerns about using opioids for chronic noncancer pain changed after participating in a 4-hour interactive workshop.
Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417, USA. Craig.Roth@va.gov
Craig S
CS
Roth
Diana J
DJ
Burgess
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004493:Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008910:Minnesota; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid