When People with Opioid-Induced Constipation Speak: A Patient Survey

Abstract

IntroductionOpioid-induced constipation (OIC) is a common consequence of opioid use for chronic pain. OIC creates problems for patients independent of their pain syndromes, in addition to threatening pain treatment effectiveness. Healthcare practitioners need to be alert to how patients talk about OIC so that it is not missed. Using a survey mechanism, we sought patient expressions of the personal impact OIC imposes on how they are able to live their lives and on meanings that symptom relief would produce.MethodsWe used an online survey asking adults with OIC about quality of life implications of OIC and focused on open-ended text responses to questions about personal impacts of straining and meanings attached to OIC symptom relief. Participants were from the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Sweden, and Norway.ResultsA survey of 513 people with OIC produced 280 text responses concerning the impacts of straining on quality of life and 469 text responses on the meaning OIC symptom relief would confer. Text responses about the quality of life impacts of straining often included explicit descriptions conveying physical, psychological, or practical problems. Text responses about the meaning conferred from OIC symptom relief primarily concentrated around freedom from the constraints that OIC can impose.ConclusionsPatients are willing and able to comment on the problems OIC cause them, using a variety of terms and phrases. Their comments concerning impacts on their lives will often refer to physical consequences, psychological effects, or practical implications. These insights provide healthcare practitioners guidance on how to engage patients about OIC.

Patients' Self-Assessment of the Symptoms and Impact of Opioid-Induced Constipation: Results From a Prospective Observational Cohort Study of Japanese Patients With Cancer

“…Consistent with previously published reports, the quality of BMs, including straining, sensations of incomplete evacuation, and stool hardness, as well as abdominal, emotional, and psychological symptoms, are important criteria that patients associate with the burdens of OIC and reduced QOL. 8,27,36,37 Therefore, patients' self-assessments are crucial for measuring the burden of OIC, further highlighting the importance of communication between patients and HCPs.…”

The patient burden of opioid‐induced constipation: New insights from a large, multinational survey in five European countries

“…23 Therefore, HCPs should proactively raise the topic of OIC rather than wait for patients to initiate discussions, and should be attentive to how patients express the physical, psychological and practical impact of OIC. 5 A recent observational study showed that drug safety is a major focus of patients who are prescribed new medicines for the long-term treatment of chronic conditions. This is particularly important given that a substantial proportion of patients cite safety issues as a reason for discontinuing treatment.…”

“…Previous research has found that more than one‐third of patients do not raise the subject of OIC with their HCP, 22 and one‐fifth feel uncomfortable talking about their condition with an HCP, most often because of embarrassment 23 . Therefore, HCPs should proactively raise the topic of OIC rather than wait for patients to initiate discussions, and should be attentive to how patients express the physical, psychological and practical impact of OIC 5 …”

Prolonged-Release (PR) Oxycodone/Naloxone Improves Bowel Function Compared with Oxycodone PR and Provides Effective Analgesia in Chinese Patients with Non-malignant Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial

“…Chronic pain affects approximately 22-36% of adults in China, a prevalence similar to that observed in Western countries [1][2][3][4][5][6] moderate-to-severe pain impacts numerous aspects of patients' physical and emotional well-being as well as impacting day-to-day activities [1,7,8]. Furthermore, the substantial economic burden arising as a result of absenteeism, reduced work productivity, and healthcare costs associated with chronic pain underscores the need for effective management approaches [9,10].…”