title: Practices, perceptions, and concerns of primary care physicians about opioid dependence associated with the treatment of chronic pain.
abstract: When prescribing opioids to treat chronic pain, physicians face the dilemma of balancing effective pain management while avoiding iatrogenic opioid addiction. Through mailed surveys, the current study assessed concerns, perceptions, and practices of primary care physicians related to this dilemma. Of the 35 (43%) physicians that replied, 32 (91.4%) reported to prescribe opioids for pain. Twenty-six (81.3%) physicians mentioned that "legitimate pain" was the main reason why most patients who are opioid dependent begin using opioids. Most physicians (71.5%) rated their knowledge/comfort of treatment/management of opioid dependence as being low. Although these physicians believed training is essential to learning about the risks involved with chronic pain and opioid dependence, many of these physicians evaluated their own medical training in these areas as unsatisfactory. Training programs may better equip primary care physicians when addressing the treatment of chronic pain and addiction to opioids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Family Medicine Research Institute, The State University of New York, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14215, USA.
authors.forename: Craig E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Lisham
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ashrafioun
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Klein
authors.forename: Chester H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Blondell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003625:Data Collection; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D059408:Pain Management / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010465:Perception; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid