Objectives: This study explores patients' satisfaction with opioid education, identifies areas for improvement, and assesses differences between those more or less satisfied with their opioid education.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of adults with prescription opioid experience. Respondents reported opioid details, demographics, and pain coping. Satisfaction with education from prescribers and pharmacy staff on opioid usage, pain relief expectations, side effects, and tapering was assessed. Open-ended questions gathered suggestions for improvement.
Results: Respondents (n = 1605) seemed more satisfied with information on opioid usage (59-80 %) and expected pain relief (46-72 %) than on side effects (50-65 %) and tapering (29-50 %). Prescriber-provided education received higher satisfaction scores than pharmacy staff-provided education, though both were valued equally (∼ 70 %). Dissatisfied respondents tended to have higher education levels, lower pain coping scores, and often ineffective opioid experiences. Qualitative analysis of the 404 respondents who indicated a need for improvement emphasised the need for clearer information on side effects, addiction risks, and tapering, and more understandable formats.
Conclusions: Opioid patient education should prioritise addressing side effects, addiction risks, and tapering at treatment initiation. The educational contributions of both prescribers and pharmacy staff are deemed important.
Practice implications: Engaging pharmacy staff, especially during repeat dispensing, can enhance patient education on opioids.
Keywords: Chronic non-cancer pain; General practice; Opioid patient education; Patient education; Patient perspective; Prescription opioids; Primary care.
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