• Erin Vipler, Molly A Nowels, and Jean Youngwerth.
• Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
• J Palliat Med. 2024 Sep 1; 27 (9): 120012031200-1203.

AbstractThe management of cancer-related pain in patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) remains complex and often challenging for clinicians and patients. There is currently a paucity of data to guide best practices, and the evidence that exists is variably applied. In this hospital-based questionnaire, we sought to understand the variation in practice patterns among clinicians in palliative medicine, addiction medicine, and hospital medicine, in caring for this complex patient population. Sixty-two questionnaire responses were analyzed and variation was found in management of pain, as well as initiation or titration of buprenorphine and methadone. There was also a significant difference in postdischarge subspecialty follow-up. Furthermore, the findings suggest that buprenorphine and methadone may be underutilized in this population. Patients and clinicians may benefit from additional support and standardization of practices to best manage coexisting cancer-related pain and OUD.

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