Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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To determine the effect of one-click integration of a state's prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) on the number of PDMP searches and opioid prescriptions, stratified by specialty. ⋯ Integration of the PDMP into the EHR markedly increased the number of searches but was associated with modest decreases in opioids prescribed and patients receiving a prescription. Single click EHR integration of the PDMP, if implemented broadly, may be a way for states to significantly increase PDMP utilization.
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To examine the prevalence and duration of skeletal muscle relaxant (SMR) treatment among commercially insured adults in the United States. ⋯ SMRs are widely used in the United States. Their use slightly increased in recent years, but trends varied among individual agents, patient groups, and geographic regions. Despite limited evidence to support efficacy, a sizable number of U.S. adults used SMRs for long-term and off-label conditions. Further study is needed to understand determinants of treatment as well as outcomes associated with such use.
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Elective surgical patients with unhealthy alcohol use have unique pain management needs and addiction risk factors that are relevant to surgical preparation and recovery. This descriptive qualitative study sought to better understand patients' beliefs and behaviors related to opioid use, alcohol use, and pain management in the perioperative context. ⋯ Appropriate assessment of beliefs and intentions regarding opioid and alcohol use could help identify patients most vulnerable to new opioid problems and unhealthy alcohol use in the context of perioperative surgical pain. These findings have important implications for perioperative pain management.
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Complementary and integrative medicine (CIM), including mind-body medicine (MBM), is a treatment option that has been proved to alleviate symptoms in patients with low back and neck pain. ⋯ MBM is a popular treatment option for people with low back and neck pain. Practitioners of CIM are also being sought out by people with such complaints. Further research in this direction is relevant.
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Since the pioneering reports of the so-called leonine face in cluster headache (CH) patients, cranial and facial features of these patients have been poorly investigated with conflicting results. We aimed to investigate whether abnormalities in craniometric measurements could characterize male CH patients and represent reliable and reproducible diagnostic biomarkers able to identify CH patients. ⋯ The craniometric evaluation by means of brain 3D computed tomography could represent a widespread, noninvasive, and accurate tool to support CH diagnosis to avoid frequent misdiagnosis or delay in the diagnostic process.