Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Observational Study
Relationship Between Opioid Analgesic Prescription and Unemployment in Patients Seeking Acupuncture for Chronic Pain in Urban Primary Care.
The widespread use of opioid analgesics to treat chronic nonmalignant pain has contributed to the ongoing epidemic of opioid-related morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have also demonstrated a relationship between opioid analgesic use and unemployment due to disability. These studies have been limited to mainly white European and North American populations. The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between opioid analgesic use for chronic nonmalignant pain in an urban, mainly black and Hispanic, low-income population. ⋯ This study adds to the growing body of evidence that opioid analgesics should be used with caution in chronic nonmalignant pain.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Feasibility of App-Based Postsurgical Assessment of Pain, Pain Impact, and Regional Anesthesia Effects: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
Postsurgical follow-up calls enable nurses to assess a patient's condition, provide tailored education, and improve the patient's experience. Despite the benefits, barriers to phone-based assessments may include patient nonresponse and lack of time due to demanding clinical schedules. The purpose of this trial was to examine the feasibility and utility of a smartphone app, mCare, for assessing pain, pain impact, and peripheral nerve block effects in patients. ⋯ Before wider implementation, further considerations of app-based assessment need to be fully explored.
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Recurrent vaso-occlusive pain episodes, the most common complication of sickle cell disease (SCD), cause frequent health care utilization. Studies exploring associations between patient activation and acute health care utilization for pain are lacking. We tested the hypothesis that increased activation and self-efficacy are associated with decreased health care utilization for pain in SCD. ⋯ Many individuals with SCD have suboptimal activation and reduced self-efficacy. Higher activation and self-efficacy were associated with lower health care utilization for pain. Additional studies are needed to evaluate interventions to improve activation and self-efficacy and reduce acute health care utilization for pain.