• Lisa Eveline Maria Davies, Elsemiek Aw Jansen-Groot Koerkamp, Ellen S Koster, Kelly-Jo Dalusong, Brigitte Koch, Arnt Fa Schellekens, Mette Heringa, and Marcel L Bouvy.
• Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Utrecht.
• Br J Gen Pract. 2024 Jul 1; 74 (744): e475e481e475-e481.

BackgroundOver the past decade, long-term use of prescription opioids for chronic non-cancer pain has risen globally despite the associated risks. Most opioid users receive their first prescription in primary care.AimTo investigate the perspective of patients who are long-term opioid users in primary care regarding the role of healthcare providers (HCPs) in their prolonged opioid use.Design And SettingSemi-structured interviews in Dutch primary care.MethodWe recruited patients who were long-term users of opioids for chronic non-cancer pain from seven community pharmacies in the Netherlands. In-depth, semi-structured interviews focused on patients' experiences with long-term opioid use, access to opioids, and the guidance of their HCPs (primarily their GPs and pharmacists). A directed content analysis was conducted on the transcribed interviews using NVivo.ResultsParticipants (n = 25) described ways in which HCPs impacted their long-term use of opioids. These encompassed the initiation of treatment, chronic use of opioids, and discontinuation of treatment. Participants stressed the need for risk counselling during initial prescribing, ongoing medication evaluations including tapering conversations, and more support from their HCP during a tapering attempt.ConclusionPatients' perspectives illustrate the important role of HCPs across the spectrum of opioid use - from initiation to tapering. The results of this study underscore the importance of clear risk counselling starting at initial prescribing, repeated medication assessments throughout treatment, addressing tapering at regular intervals, and strong support during tapering. These insights carry significant implications for clinical practice, emphasising the importance of informed and patient-centred care when it comes to opioid use for chronic non-cancer pain management.© The Authors.

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