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Principles for managing OUD related to chronic pain in the Nordic countries based on a structured assessment of current practice

Kakko, Johan ; Gedeon, Charlotte LU ; Sandell, Mikael ; Grelz, Henrik LU orcid ; Birkemose, Inge ; Clausen, Thomas ; Rúnarsdóttir, Valgerur ; Simojoki, Kaarlo ; Littlewood, Richard and Alho, Hannu , et al. (2018) In Substance Abuse: Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 13(1).
Abstract

Background: Long-term use of opioid analgesics (OA) for chronic pain may result in opioid use disorder (OUD). This is associated with adverse outcomes for individuals, families and society. Treatment needs of people with OUD related to chronic pain are different compared to dependence related to use, and also injection, of illicit opioids. In Nordic countries, day-to-day practical advice to assist clinical decision-making is insufficient. Aim: To develop principles based on expert clinical insights for treatment of OUD related to the long-term use of OA in the context of chronic pain. Methods: Current status including an assessment of barriers to effective treatment in Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden was defined using a... (More)

Background: Long-term use of opioid analgesics (OA) for chronic pain may result in opioid use disorder (OUD). This is associated with adverse outcomes for individuals, families and society. Treatment needs of people with OUD related to chronic pain are different compared to dependence related to use, and also injection, of illicit opioids. In Nordic countries, day-to-day practical advice to assist clinical decision-making is insufficient. Aim: To develop principles based on expert clinical insights for treatment of OUD related to the long-term use of OA in the context of chronic pain. Methods: Current status including an assessment of barriers to effective treatment in Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden was defined using a patient pathway model. Evidence to describe best practice was identified from published literature, clinical guidelines and expert recommendations from practice experience. Results: Availability of national treatment guidelines for OUD related to chronic pain is limited across the Nordics. Important barriers to effective care identified: patients unlikely to present for help, healthcare system set up limits success, diagnosis tools not used, referral pathways unclear and treatment choices not elucidated. Principles include the development of a specific treatment pathway, awareness/ education programs for teams in primary care, guidance on use of diagnostic tools and a flexible treatment plan to encourage best practice in referral, treatment assessment, choice and ongoing management via an integrated care pathway. Healthcare systems and registries in Nordic countries offer an opportunity to further research and identify population risks and solutions. Conclusions: There is an opportunity to improve outcomes for patients with OUD related to chronic pain by developing and introducing care pathways tailored to specific needs of the population.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Chronic pain, Nordics countries, Opioid use disorder
in
Substance Abuse: Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
volume
13
issue
1
article number
22
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • scopus:85047974644
  • pmid:29859110
ISSN
1747-597X
DOI
10.1186/s13011-018-0160-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ce418814-a53a-42b3-88e4-5d30f33ca62d
date added to LUP
2018-06-11 13:15:50
date last changed
2024-04-15 09:06:05
@article{ce418814-a53a-42b3-88e4-5d30f33ca62d,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Long-term use of opioid analgesics (OA) for chronic pain may result in opioid use disorder (OUD). This is associated with adverse outcomes for individuals, families and society. Treatment needs of people with OUD related to chronic pain are different compared to dependence related to use, and also injection, of illicit opioids. In Nordic countries, day-to-day practical advice to assist clinical decision-making is insufficient. Aim: To develop principles based on expert clinical insights for treatment of OUD related to the long-term use of OA in the context of chronic pain. Methods: Current status including an assessment of barriers to effective treatment in Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden was defined using a patient pathway model. Evidence to describe best practice was identified from published literature, clinical guidelines and expert recommendations from practice experience. Results: Availability of national treatment guidelines for OUD related to chronic pain is limited across the Nordics. Important barriers to effective care identified: patients unlikely to present for help, healthcare system set up limits success, diagnosis tools not used, referral pathways unclear and treatment choices not elucidated. Principles include the development of a specific treatment pathway, awareness/ education programs for teams in primary care, guidance on use of diagnostic tools and a flexible treatment plan to encourage best practice in referral, treatment assessment, choice and ongoing management via an integrated care pathway. Healthcare systems and registries in Nordic countries offer an opportunity to further research and identify population risks and solutions. Conclusions: There is an opportunity to improve outcomes for patients with OUD related to chronic pain by developing and introducing care pathways tailored to specific needs of the population.</p>}},
  author       = {{Kakko, Johan and Gedeon, Charlotte and Sandell, Mikael and Grelz, Henrik and Birkemose, Inge and Clausen, Thomas and Rúnarsdóttir, Valgerur and Simojoki, Kaarlo and Littlewood, Richard and Alho, Hannu and Nyberg, Fred}},
  issn         = {{1747-597X}},
  keywords     = {{Chronic pain; Nordics countries; Opioid use disorder}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{Substance Abuse: Treatment, Prevention, and Policy}},
  title        = {{Principles for managing OUD related to chronic pain in the Nordic countries based on a structured assessment of current practice}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13011-018-0160-7}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s13011-018-0160-7}},
  volume       = {{13}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}