Practice choices and challenges in the current intrathecal therapy environment: an online survey.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate current practice characteristics, treatment choices, clinical experiences, and economic concerns associated with intrathecal therapy.


METHODS
Health care professionals in the United States, who were known to actively use intrathecal therapy in their practices, were recruited to participate in an online survey; contact information was obtained via Internet searches, university Websites, association memberships, industry databases, and personal contacts. Survey responses were summarized descriptively.


RESULTS
Of the 329 practitioners who were contacted, 87 participated in the survey. Most participants specialized in anesthesiology (77.0%), worked in a private practice or private hospital (74.7%), and had been practicing pain management for more than 10 years (64.4%). Morphine was the most frequently used opioid for the initiation of intrathecal therapy (80.7% of practitioners), and 81.9% had used ziconotide in their practice. Most practitioners (63.9%) had treated at least one patient who developed a granuloma, and 66.0% of those practitioners had a patient experience permanent or temporary neurological injury due to a granuloma. Fewer than half of practitioners were satisfied with reimbursement from private insurance companies (25.3%) or workers compensation (34.9%), and 90.5% believed reimbursement rates for filling, refilling, and programming patient pumps are not adequate to cover practice costs. The majority of practitioners (56.6%) use fewer pumps in their practices because of reimbursement issues.


CONCLUSIONS
Intrathecal pain management practices continue to evolve as the options for treatment increase, and the body of applicable scientific literature grows; however, economic considerations can influence clinical decisions and may interfere with treatment choice and patient access to therapy.
Deer
Timothy R
TR
The Center for Pain Relief, Charleston, West Virginia, USA. doctdeer@aol.com
Krames
Elliot
E
Levy
Robert M
RM
Hassenbusch
Samuel J
SJ
Prager
Joshua P
JP
D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003625:Data Collection; D006099:Granuloma / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007278:Injections, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D020407:Internet; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States
D000700:Analgesics