Unintended Consequences of Opioid Regulations in Older Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Older adults have high rates of chronic pain and MCC that may reduce their pain management options. The opioid epidemic and policies addressing it have the potential to negatively affect patient-clinician relationships and patients' pain self-management. Clinicians may be able to mitigate these unintended consequences by actively conveying respect to the patient, empowering patients in their pain self-management activities, and proactively addressing worries and fears patients may own related to their current and future pain management regimens. PMID: 32222760 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: The Gerontologist - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Tags: Gerontologist Source Type: research