Presenter Information
Kulkarni A1, Hawkins M1, Kamal KM1, Giannetti V1, Mihalyo M1,2, Covvey JR1
1 Duquesne University School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2 DeltaCareRx, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Abstract
Background:Clinical pharmacists play an important role in the care of patients in hospice/palliative care, particularly for the treatment of pain. Methadone, a long-active opioid, is particularly useful in this population, but may be underutilized. The objective of the study was to evaluate the prevalence ofpharmacist recommendations and subsequent physician acceptance for the use of methadonefor painin newly admitted hospice/palliative care patients. Methods: The study was conductedfrom October-December 2019in coordination with a locally-based pharmacy services organization which works with hospice/palliative care providers. A selectedgroup of pharmacists at the organization identified patients reviewed as new admissions as part of their usual clinical careprocess.A data collection tool was utilized to collectinformation onpatient demographics, type of pain, medication history, pain intensity and palliative prognosis score at the time of admission; furthermore, it identified whether a recommendation for methadone was made by the pharmacist based onindividualindications/contraindications. Patients who had recommendations for methadone rendered were followed up with additional data collection by a member of the research team. Further datacollectedincluded whether the provided recommendation was accepted or not, as well as additional patient information includingallergies, comorbidities, hepatic/renalfunction, nutritional status pain medication history, current pain intensity and palliative prognosis score. Results/Conclusion:Datawas collectedby pharmacistsfor158 patients, including 37(23.4%)who wereprovidedrecommendationsfor methadoneby pharmacists, most commonly asaswitch for maintenance treatment (26; 70.3%). Out of the 37 recommendations, 6 (16.2%) were accepted by physicianswithin the follow-up period. Ongoing analysis will continue to assessthe data collectedto identify patterns in recommendations that were accepted versus those that were not.
School
School of Pharmacy
Advisor
Dr. Jordan Covvey
Submission Type
Poster
Included in
Prevalence and acceptance of methadone recommendations in hospice and palliative care
Background:Clinical pharmacists play an important role in the care of patients in hospice/palliative care, particularly for the treatment of pain. Methadone, a long-active opioid, is particularly useful in this population, but may be underutilized. The objective of the study was to evaluate the prevalence ofpharmacist recommendations and subsequent physician acceptance for the use of methadonefor painin newly admitted hospice/palliative care patients. Methods: The study was conductedfrom October-December 2019in coordination with a locally-based pharmacy services organization which works with hospice/palliative care providers. A selectedgroup of pharmacists at the organization identified patients reviewed as new admissions as part of their usual clinical careprocess.A data collection tool was utilized to collectinformation onpatient demographics, type of pain, medication history, pain intensity and palliative prognosis score at the time of admission; furthermore, it identified whether a recommendation for methadone was made by the pharmacist based onindividualindications/contraindications. Patients who had recommendations for methadone rendered were followed up with additional data collection by a member of the research team. Further datacollectedincluded whether the provided recommendation was accepted or not, as well as additional patient information includingallergies, comorbidities, hepatic/renalfunction, nutritional status pain medication history, current pain intensity and palliative prognosis score. Results/Conclusion:Datawas collectedby pharmacistsfor158 patients, including 37(23.4%)who wereprovidedrecommendationsfor methadoneby pharmacists, most commonly asaswitch for maintenance treatment (26; 70.3%). Out of the 37 recommendations, 6 (16.2%) were accepted by physicianswithin the follow-up period. Ongoing analysis will continue to assessthe data collectedto identify patterns in recommendations that were accepted versus those that were not.