• Julie W Childers, Linda A King, and Robert M Arnold.
• Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA childersjw2@upmc.edu.
• Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2015 Sep 1; 32 (6): 654-9.

ObjectivesTo describe the prevalence of chronic pain and the risk of opioid misuse in a palliative care clinic.MethodsWe reviewed patient records for 6 months for source of pain, treatment status, opioid misuse risk (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener [CAGE] and Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain version 1.0-Short Form [SOAPP-SF] scores), and urine drug screens.ResultsOf 323 patients, 91% had cancer, 56% undergoing cancer treatment, while 28% had no evidence of disease. Eighty-six (27%) patients had noncancer pain. In all, 46% of new patients had positive scores on the SOAPP-SF and 15% had a positive CAGE. Of the less than 5% of visits that included a urine drug screen, 56% had aberrant results.ConclusionChronic pain and indicators of opioid misuse risk were prevalent. Outpatient palliative care practices should develop policies to address these issues.© The Author(s) 2014.

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