Communication between patients and health care professionals about opioid medications

Tanvee Thakur; Meredith Frey; Betty Chewning

doi:10.1016/j.rcsop.2021.100030

Communication between patients and health care professionals about opioid medications

Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2021 May 29:2:100030. doi: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2021.100030. eCollection 2021 Jun.

Authors

Tanvee Thakur¹, Meredith Frey², Betty Chewning¹

Affiliations

¹ Social and Administrative Sciences in Pharmacy Division, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy, United States.
² PGY2 Pharmacy Resident - Ambulatory Care Setting, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, United States.

Abstract

Prescription opioids contribute to 40% of opioid overdose deaths in the United States. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) play an important role in mitigating the prescription opioid epidemic by appropriate opioid prescribing and patient education. Yet, little empirical literature addresses pharmacist (and other HCP) communication with patients related to risks of opioid use associated with dependence, misuse, and overdose. Nor is there much research on the barriers and facilitators which affect whether and how much opioid-related information is discussed. This commentary, based on an extensive literature search, seeks to inform future communication, education, and research agendas by describing (1) topics commonly discussed or excluded from opioid medication counseling, (2) patient and HCP perceptions regarding opioid medication communication, and (3) barriers and facilitators to opioid risk communication. Based on this literature, recommendations are provided for opioid counseling practices, pharmacist education, and research agendas.

Keywords: Communication; Counseling; Healthcare professional; Opioid; Opioid risk; Pharmacist; Safety.