Opiophobia in Adults With Advanced Cancer

Primary Objective:

To explore the barriers and fears related to use of opioids among a population of adult outpatients with advanced cancer who continue to experience pain after receiving a prescription for opioid analgesia.

Secondary Objective:

To examine associations among opiophobia, anxiety, depression, pain intensity, pain interference, and opioid medication adherence among adults with advanced cancer who report undermanaged pain during the first week after receiving a prescription for an opioid analgesic.

Inclusion criteria

• Adult patients with advanced cancer (defined as cancer that is unlikely to be cured and is locally advanced or distantly metastasized
• Pain is the documented reason for the Supportive Care consultation
• Have a prescription for an opioid analgesic
• Able to read, speak, and consent in English.

Exclusion criteria

• Age less than 18 years
• Do not have a prescription for an opioid analgesic
• Individuals for whom there is documentation of inability to provide consent in the medical record
• Women who are pregnant
• Patients with a substance use disorder (including alcohol use disorder and excluding tobacco use disorder) documented in the electronic health record under History of Present Illness or in the Medical History.