• John S Henshaw, Judi Walker, and Dom Geraghty.
• University of Tasmania, Burnie, Tasmania, Australia.
• J Opioid Manag. 2012 Mar 1; 8 (2): 126-32.

ObjectiveTo determine whether there are differences in the personal socioeconomic costs of healthcare access between transdermal (TD) and oral opioid use in a rural population with chronic noncancer pain (CNCP).DesignAn observational longitudinal study, measuring change in the self-reported personal time and expense of healthcare access by route of opioid administration over time (monthly for 1 year). Subjects were opioid treated patients with CNCP from North West Tasmania, Australia. Subjects completed monthly datasheets by recording all personal healthcare access time and expense, together with the route(s) of opioid administration. The outcome measures of mean monthly healthcare time (MHT) and expense (MHE), by route of opioid administration, were analyzed using generalized estimating equations with robust standard errors.ResultsThe details of 10,564 healthcare contacts from 198 subjects were obtained during the study. Total mean MHT with oral opioids was 3.76 hours (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.21-5.32) and unchanged (p = 0.59) with TD opioids at 3.48 hours (95% CI = 2.23-4.72). Total mean MHE with oral opioids was AU$ 92.72 (95% CI = 51.21-134.24) and unchanged (p = 0.81) with TD opioids atAU$ 89.12 (95% CI = 54.53-123.71).ConclusionsThe personal socioeconomic costs of healthcare access for rural patients with CNCP are similar for TD and oral opioid use. The prolonged analgesic affect of TD opioids may be advantageous for rural population.

26 keywords...

hide…