CAM therapies among primary care patients using opioid therapy for chronic pain
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is an increasingly common therapy used to treat chronic pain syndromes. However; there is limited information on the utilization and efficacy of CAM therapy in primary care patients receiv...
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doaj-8f989578cdcd4ba48bbc3569f1c811992020-11-25T02:38:55ZengBMCBMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine1472-68822007-05-01711510.1186/1472-6882-7-15CAM therapies among primary care patients using opioid therapy for chronic painMundt Marlon PRabago David PFleming SaraFleming Michael F<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is an increasingly common therapy used to treat chronic pain syndromes. However; there is limited information on the utilization and efficacy of CAM therapy in primary care patients receiving long-term opioid therapy.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>A survey of CAM therapy was conducted with a systematic sample of 908 primary care patients receiving opioids as a primary treatment method for chronic pain. Subjects completed a questionnaire designed to assess utilization, efficacy and costs of CAM therapies in this population.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Patients were treated for a variety of pain problems including low back pain (38.4%), headaches (9.9%), and knee pain (6.5%); the average duration of pain was 16 years. The median morphine equivalent opioid dose was 41 mg/day, and the mean dose was 92 mg/day. Forty-four percent of the sample reported CAM therapy use in the past 12 months. Therapies utilized included massage therapy (27.3%, n = 248), chiropractic treatment (17.8%, n = 162), acupuncture (7.6%, n = 69), yoga (6.1%, n = 55), herbs and supplements (6.8%, n = 62), and prolotherapy (5.9%, n = 54). CAM utilization was significantly related to age female gender, pain severity income pain diagnosis of neck and upper back pain, and illicit drug use. Medical insurance covered chiropractic treatment (81.8%) and prolotherapy (87.7%), whereas patients primarily paid for other CAM therapies. Over half the sample reported that one or more of the CAM therapies were helpful.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study suggests CAM therapy is widely used by patients receiving opioids for chronic pain. Whether opioids can be reduced by introducing such therapies remains to be studied.</p> http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/7/15 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Mundt Marlon P Rabago David P Fleming Sara Fleming Michael F |
spellingShingle |
Mundt Marlon P Rabago David P Fleming Sara Fleming Michael F CAM therapies among primary care patients using opioid therapy for chronic pain BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine |
author_facet |
Mundt Marlon P Rabago David P Fleming Sara Fleming Michael F |
author_sort |
Mundt Marlon P |
title |
CAM therapies among primary care patients using opioid therapy for chronic pain |
title_short |
CAM therapies among primary care patients using opioid therapy for chronic pain |
title_full |
CAM therapies among primary care patients using opioid therapy for chronic pain |
title_fullStr |
CAM therapies among primary care patients using opioid therapy for chronic pain |
title_full_unstemmed |
CAM therapies among primary care patients using opioid therapy for chronic pain |
title_sort |
cam therapies among primary care patients using opioid therapy for chronic pain |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine |
issn |
1472-6882 |
publishDate |
2007-05-01 |
description |
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is an increasingly common therapy used to treat chronic pain syndromes. However; there is limited information on the utilization and efficacy of CAM therapy in primary care patients receiving long-term opioid therapy.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>A survey of CAM therapy was conducted with a systematic sample of 908 primary care patients receiving opioids as a primary treatment method for chronic pain. Subjects completed a questionnaire designed to assess utilization, efficacy and costs of CAM therapies in this population.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Patients were treated for a variety of pain problems including low back pain (38.4%), headaches (9.9%), and knee pain (6.5%); the average duration of pain was 16 years. The median morphine equivalent opioid dose was 41 mg/day, and the mean dose was 92 mg/day. Forty-four percent of the sample reported CAM therapy use in the past 12 months. Therapies utilized included massage therapy (27.3%, n = 248), chiropractic treatment (17.8%, n = 162), acupuncture (7.6%, n = 69), yoga (6.1%, n = 55), herbs and supplements (6.8%, n = 62), and prolotherapy (5.9%, n = 54). CAM utilization was significantly related to age female gender, pain severity income pain diagnosis of neck and upper back pain, and illicit drug use. Medical insurance covered chiropractic treatment (81.8%) and prolotherapy (87.7%), whereas patients primarily paid for other CAM therapies. Over half the sample reported that one or more of the CAM therapies were helpful.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study suggests CAM therapy is widely used by patients receiving opioids for chronic pain. Whether opioids can be reduced by introducing such therapies remains to be studied.</p> |
url |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/7/15 |
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