Impact of a New Palliative Care Consultation Team on Opioid Prescription
Author Information
Author(s): Centeno Carlos, Portela María Angustias, Noguera Antonio, Idoate Antonio, Rubiales Álvaro Sanz
Primary Institution: Clínica Universidad de Navarra
Hypothesis
The study evaluates the impact of a hospital Palliative Care Consultation Team (PCCT) on opioid prescription trends in a University Hospital.
Conclusion
Implementation of a PCCT in a University Hospital is associated with a higher and more adequate use of opioids.
Supporting Evidence
- Opioid prescription in the Oncology Department increased from 240 to 558 DDD/1000HS after the PCCT was implemented.
- The rate of effectiveness in opioid treatment rose from 64% to 87% after the PCCT's implementation.
- The rate of improvement in opioid treatment increased from 43% to 64% following the establishment of the PCCT.
Takeaway
A new team that helps doctors give better pain medicine to cancer patients leads to more patients getting the right amount of pain relief.
Methodology
A seven-year retrospective study analyzing opioid prescriptions before and after the implementation of the PCCT.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the observational nature of the study and the influence of other factors on opioid prescription.
Limitations
The study only evaluates opioid prescription and does not assess other aspects of palliative care.
Participant Demographics
Patients admitted to the Oncology Department of a University Hospital.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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