Satisfaction with Therapy Among Patients with Chronic Noncancer Pain with Opioid-Induced Constipation.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Greater satisfaction with medication is associated with better adherence; however, specific to opioid-induced constipation (OIC), data on the relationship between medication satisfaction and efficacy are lacking.

OBJECTIVE:

To understand satisfaction with therapy among patients with chronic noncancer pain and OIC.

METHODS:

A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in the United States, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom using web-based patient surveys. Patients on daily opioid therapy for ≥ 74 weeks for the treatment of chronic noncancer pain with OIC were recruited from physician offices and completed a web-based survey at baseline and weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24. When completing each survey, patients selected the remedies used in the previous 2 weeks to relieve constipation; options included natural/behavioral therapies, over-the-counter (OTC) therapies, and prescription laxatives. Patients selected the amount of relief and satisfaction with each selected therapy. Descriptive statistics were calculated; Spearman's correlations were calculated for symptom relief and satisfaction.

RESULTS:

Mean age of the 489 patients who met the criteria for OIC and completed the baseline survey was 52.6 ± 11.6 years; 62% were female; 85% were white. Increasing levels of relief from constipation were associated with increasing levels of satisfaction for all agents; correlations were > 0.55 and statistically significant (P < 0.001). Among the patients who had used OTC therapies in the 2 weeks prior to baseline, 54% to 73% reported that they were somewhat or very satisfied with the therapy. Yet, of these satisfied patients, 28% to 63% experienced no or only slight relief from the therapy. Twenty percent to 79% of the patients who had used prescription laxatives in the 2 weeks prior to baseline reported being at least somewhat satisfied with the therapy.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results indicate that there is a high rate of inadequate response to laxatives for patients with OIC that persisted for the 6 months of this study. While increased relief from constipation was associated with increased satisfaction for all therapies, there remains a substantial number of patients who report satisfaction despite having only inadequate relief from OIC that merits further investigation.

• Authors: Robert J LoCasale, Catherine Datto, Mary Kay Margolis, Karin S Coyne
• Journal: Journal of managed care & specialty pharmacy (J Manag Care Spec Pharm) Vol. 22 Issue 3 Pg. 246-53 (Mar 2016) ISSN: 2376-1032 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 27003554 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Opioid
• Laxatives

Topics

• Analgesics, Opioid (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Chronic Pain (drug therapy)
• Constipation (chemically induced)
• Female
• Humans
• Laxatives (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Patient Satisfaction
• Prospective Studies
• Quality of Life
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• United States