Survey of Chronic Pain Specialists and Their Experiences with Pharmacies in Managing Chronic Pain

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to survey prescribers who manage patients with chronic pain to evaluate how pharmacy services are perceived to affect patients’ quality of life. METHODS: Surveys were sent to prescribers who manage patients with chronic pain. Prescribers rated pharmacy services on a scale of 0 – 5 (0 being not important at all, and 5 being extremely important) to the quality of life of patients with chronic pain. RESULTS: Surveys were completed by 23 subjects. Prescribers ranked pharmacy services as follows: the pharmacy fills opioid prescriptions for all pain conditions (mean = 4.2; SD = 1.0), the patient is able to obtain the entire quantity of pain medication (mean = 4.1; SD = 1.5), the pharmacy treats the patient as dependent on, not addicted to opioids (mean = 3.9; SD = 1.6), the pharmacy collaborates with the prescriber to manage opiate therapy (mean = 3.9; SD = 1.5), the pharmacy stocks new and recently approved pain medications (mean = 3.8; SD = 1.1), the pharmacy provides the patient with information on adverse effects of pain medications (mean = 3.8; SD = 1.5), the pharmacy is able to use manufacturer co-pay cards to minimize out-of-pocket costs (mean = 3.5; SD = 1.7), the patient can have prescriptions delivered to their home (mean = 2.1; SD = 1.8) and the patient can obtain a prescription without having to wait a specified time period determined by their pharmacy (mean = 1.8; SD = 1.5). CONCLUSION: Prescribers in this study felt that certain pharmacy services are very important in the treatment of patients with chronic pain. Pharmacies may improve patients’ quality of life in the management of their chronic pain by providing these services.