title: Attitudes toward the Canadian Guideline for Safe and Effective Use of Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: A qualitative study.
abstract: Chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) refers to all pain disorders, not due to cancer, that persist for ≥3 months. The point prevalence of CNCP in the general population of Western countries is between 19 and 33 percent. Opioids are commonly prescribed for CNCP and are associated with both benefits and harms. The Canadian Guideline for Safe and Effective Use of Opioids for CNCP was published in 2010 to provide guidance for optimal opioid prescribing in patients with CNCP.
  
  
  
  To investigate the attitudes toward, and use of, the Canadian Opioids Guideline among pain physicians.
  
  
  
  A qualitative study using one-on-one, semistructured interviews with 12 pain physicians in Ontario, Canada, and thematic analysis of verbatim transcripts.
  
  
  
  Major themes that emerged from interviews included: (1) generally positive attitudes toward the 2010 Canadian Opioids Guideline, but limited use-half (six of 12) reported they did not use the guideline in practice; (2) strongly contrasting views regarding the 200 mg/d morphine equivalent watchful dose; (3) recognition of gaps in the guideline, especially recommendations for urine drug screening and pain severity-specific therapy; (4) the guideline is excessively long and the format suboptimal; and (5) improved dissemination and education are needed to enhance guideline uptake.
  
  
  
  Despite its merits, the Canadian Opioids Guideline suffers from information gaps and from limited uptake, at least in part due to suboptimal format and suboptimal dissemination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Yaping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Student, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Kan Lun
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: Ivan D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Florez
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Sung Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Nasim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zamir
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Augustin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toma
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Reza Donald
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Mirza
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Gordon H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Guyatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; The Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Pain Research and Care, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; The Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Pain Research and Care, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jason W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Busse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid