Attitudes and Beliefs of Working and Work-Disabled People with Chronic Pain Prescribed Long-Term Opioids.

Objective: This study was designed to gain insight into the apparent contradiction between the perspectives of researchers and policy makers, who have questioned the efficacy and safety of chronic opioid therapy for non-cancer pain patients, and the patients themselves, who often indicate that the therapy has value.

Subjects: A convenience sample of 54 patients on chronic opioid therapy was studied.

Methods: Participants completed a questionnaire specifically designed for the study, and also several standard instruments that addressed functional interference, emotional functioning, and possible misuse of opioids.

Measuring respiratory symptoms of COPD: performance of the EXACT- Respiratory Symptoms Tool (E-RS) in three clinical trials.

Background: Symptomatic relief is an important treatment goal for patients with COPD. To date, no diary for evaluating respiratory symptoms in clinical trials has been developed and scientifically-validated according to FDA and EMA guidelines. The EXACT - Respiratory Symptoms (E-RS) scale is a patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure designed to address this need.

Impact of chronic musculoskeletal pain on objectively measured daily physical activity: a review of current findings.

SUMMARY Chronic pain affects a wide range of outcomes that are typically assessed using self-reported methodologies, which are susceptible to recall biases, current mood and pain intensity. Physical activity (PA) is an important component of the pain experience that can be objectively assessed with accelerometers, which are small, lightweight devices that measure the duration, frequency and intensity of PA over time. Accelerometry provides opportunities to compare actual and perceived PA, to design individually customized treatments, to monitor treatment progress, and to evaluate treatment efficacy.

Physicians' beliefs and likelihood of prescribing opioid tamper-resistant formulations for chronic noncancer pain patients.

Background: Tamper-resistant opioid formulations (TRFs) have recently been the target of active development in an effort to deter opioid misuse and abuse.

Objective: To understand factors that are predictive of physicians' likelihoods of prescribing TRFs to patients with chronic noncancer pain (CNCP).

Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted, utilizing a questionnaire of clinicians' attitudes and opinions about opioids for CNCP (Clinicians' Attitudes about Opioids Scale) to explore beliefs about and likelihood of prescribing TRFs.

Association of chronic widespread pain with objectively measured physical activity in adults: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey.

Unlabelled: Chronic widespread pain (CWP) is a common and potentially debilitating disorder. Patterns of physical activity (PA) in adults with CWP have primarily been investigated using subjective, self-report measures. The current study sought to characterize PA among community-dwelling individuals with CWP, chronic regional pain, or no chronic pain using objective measurements obtained via accelerometry in the 2003 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Prevalence and impact of pain among older adults in the United States: findings from the 2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study.

This study sought to determine the prevalence and impact of pain in a nationally representative sample of older adults in the United States. Data from the 2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study were analyzed. In-person interviews were conducted in 7601 adults ages ≥65 years.

Clinicians' attitudes and beliefs about opioids survey (CAOS): instrument development and results of a national physician survey.

Unlabelled: Beliefs surrounding the use of opioids for chronic noncancer pain have vacillated over time. Concerns regarding long-term efficacy and adverse effects of opioids, along with increases in opioid prescribing, have contributed to many political, regulatory, and clinical responses. The present study was designed to (1) develop a reliable and valid measure (Clinicians' Attitudes about Opioids Scale [CAOS]) to assess current and evolving beliefs regarding opioids and opioid use in patients with chronic pain; and (2) survey these beliefs in a nationally representative sample of providers from multiple medical specialties throughout the United States.

The role of fear of movement in subacute whiplash-associated disorders grades I and II.

Fear and avoidance of activity may play a role in fostering disability in whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). This study examined the role of fear after WAD and assessed the effectiveness of 3 treatments targeting fear. People still symptomatic from WAD grade I-II injuries approximately 3months previously (n=191) completed questionnaires (eg, Neck Disability Index [NDI]) and were randomized to 1 of the treatments: (1) informational booklet (IB) describing WAD and the importance of resuming activities, (2) IB+didactic discussions (DD) with clinicians reinforcing the booklet, and (3) IB+imaginal and direct exposure desensitization (ET) to feared activities.

Redesigning delivery of opioids to optimize pain management, improve outcomes, and contain costs.

Introduction: Chronic pain is a public health concern, and in the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the use and abuse of prescription opioids for chronic non-cancer pain.

Methods: We present an overview of a five-component model of pain management implemented at the University of Washington Division of Pain Medicine designed to facilitate recent state guidelines to reduce the risks associated with long-term use of prescription opioids.

Results: Central to the model described are guidelines for best clinical practice, a collaborative care approach, telehealth solutions, comprehensive prescription-monitoring, and measurement-based care.

Genetic and environmental influences on residential location in the US.

We used a classical twin design and measures of neighborhood walkability and social deprivation, using each twin's street address, to examine genetic and environmental influences on the residential location of 1389 same-sex pairs from a US community-based twin registry. Within-pair correlations and structural equation models estimated these influences on walkability among younger (ages 18-24.9) and older (ages 25+) twins.

The comorbidity of self-reported chronic fatigue syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, and traumatic symptoms.

Background: Data from primary care and community samples suggest higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Objective: This study investigated the co-occurrence of CFS, PTSD, and trauma symptoms and assessed the contribution of familial factors to the association of CFS with lifetime PTSD and current traumatic symptoms.

Method: Data on lifetime CFS and PTSD, as measured by self-report of a doctor's diagnosis of the disorder, and standardized questionnaire data on traumatic symptoms, using the Impact of Events Scale (IES), were obtained from 8544 female and male twins from the community-based University of Washington Twin Registry.

Conditions comorbid with chronic fatigue in a population-based sample.

Background: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has been found to be comorbid with various medical conditions in clinical samples, but little research has investigated CFS comorbidity in population-based samples.

Objective: This study investigated conditions concurrent with a CFS-like illness among twins in the population-based Mid-Atlantic Twin Registry (MATR), including chronic widespread pain (CWP), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and major depressive disorder (MDD).

Method: A survey was mailed to participants in the MATR in 1999.