Articles: opioid.
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This study explored the approaches of respiratory and palliative medicine specialists to managing the chronic breathlessness syndrome in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A voluntary, online survey was emailed to all specialists and trainees in respiratory medicine in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), and to all palliative medicine specialists and trainees in ANZ and the United Kingdom (UK). Five hundred and seventy-seven (33.0%) responses were received from 1,749 specialists, with 440 (25.2%) complete questionnaires included from 177 respiratory and 263 palliative medicine doctors. ⋯ Nineteen (10.7%) respiratory doctors made no specific recommendations for managing chronic breathlessness. Both specialties reported actively managing chronic breathlessness, albeit with differing approaches. Integrated services, which combine the complementary knowledge and approaches of both specialities, may overcome current gaps in care and improve the management of distressing, chronic breathlessness.
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Preventive medicine · Jun 2018
Public support for safe consumption sites and syringe services programs to combat the opioid epidemic.
We examine Americans' support for two evidence-based harm reduction strategies - safe consumption sites and syringe exchange programs - and their attitudes about individuals who use opioids. We conducted a web-based survey of a nationally representative sample of U. S. adults in July-August 2017 (N = 1004). ⋯ Democrats and Independents were more likely than Republicans to support both strategies. Stigmatizing attitudes toward people who use opioids are a key modifiable barrier to garnering the public support needed to fully implement evidence-based harm reduction strategies to combat the opioid epidemic. Dissemination and evaluation of stigma reduction campaigns are a public health priority.
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J Subst Abuse Treat · Jun 2018
Effects of medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder on functional outcomes: A systematic review.
This systematic review synthesizes evidence on the effects of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) on functional outcomes, including cognitive (e.g., memory), physical (e.g., fatigue), occupational (e.g., return to work), social/behavioral (e.g., criminal activity), and neurological (e.g., balance) function. Five databases were searched from inception to July 2017 to identify English-language controlled trials, case control studies, and cohort comparisons of one or more groups; cross-sectional studies were excluded. Two independent reviewers screened identified literature, abstracted study-level information, and assessed the quality of included studies. ⋯ The quality of evidence for most functional outcomes was rated low or very low. In sum, weaknesses in the body of evidence prevent strong conclusions about the effects of MAT for opioid use disorder on functional outcomes. Rigorous studies of functional effects would strengthen the body of literature.
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Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can · Jun 2018
At-a-glance - Lessons learned from launching the Manitoba Take-Home Naloxone Program.
The Government of Manitoba launched the provincial Take-Home Naloxone Program in January 2017. By the end of September 2017, there were over 60 sites operating in Manitoba. ⋯ Fentanyl and carfentanil were the most common substances reported during overdose events. Take-Home Naloxone Program data provide important information about the unique context of the opioid crisis in Manitoba.
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Post-surgical pain impacts many patient outcomes. Effective pain management increasingly relies on multimodal analgesia regimens in which acetaminophen (APAP) is a key component. The aim of our study was to examine the impact of oral APAP versus intravenous (IV) APAP as a component of post-surgical pain management after Cesarean sections and hysterectomies. ⋯ Post-surgical pain managed with IV APAP in patients undergoing Cesarean section or hysterectomy was associated with shorter LOS, reduced risk of ORADEs, and lower opioid consumption compared to patients managed with oral APAP, without adversely impacting total pharmacy costs.