Physicians’ and patients’ perceived risks of chronic pain medication and co-medications in Quebec, Canada: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background The risks associated with medications and co-medications for chronic pain (CP) can influence a physician’s choice of drugs and dosages, as well as a patient’s adherence to the medication. High-quality care requires patients to participate in medication decisions. This study aimed...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Primary Care |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-02704-5 |
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| author | Gwenaëlle De Clifford-Faugère Anaïs Lacasse Hermine Lore Nguena Nguefack Marimée Godbout-Parent Aline Boulanger Nancy Julien |
| author_facet | Gwenaëlle De Clifford-Faugère Anaïs Lacasse Hermine Lore Nguena Nguefack Marimée Godbout-Parent Aline Boulanger Nancy Julien |
| author_sort | Gwenaëlle De Clifford-Faugère |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The risks associated with medications and co-medications for chronic pain (CP) can influence a physician’s choice of drugs and dosages, as well as a patient’s adherence to the medication. High-quality care requires patients to participate in medication decisions. This study aimed to compare perceived risks of medications and co-medications between physicians and persons living with CP. Methods This cross-sectional survey conducted in Quebec, Canada, included 83 physicians (snowball sampling) and 141 persons living with CP (convenience sampling). Perceived risks of adverse drug reaction of pain medications and co-medications were assessed using 0–10 numerical scales (0 = no risk, 10 = very high risk). An arbitrary cutoff point of 2-points was used to ease the interpretation of our data. Physicians scored the 36 medication subclasses of the Medication Quantification Scale 4.0 (MQS 4.0) through an online survey, while CP patients scored the medication subclasses they had taken in the last three months through telephone interviews. Results Persons living with CP consistently perceived lower risks of adverse drug reaction compared to physicians. For eight subclasses, the difference in the mean perceived risk score was > 2 points and statistically significant (p < 0.05): non-specific oral NSAIDs, acetaminophen in combination with an opioid, short-acting opioids, long-acting opioids, tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and medical cannabis. Conclusions Divergent risk perceptions between physicians and patients underscore the necessity of facilitating a more extensive discussion on medications and co-medications risks to empower patients to make informed decisions and participate in shared decision-making regarding their treatments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-11f4339754f249b296daf84686044341 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2731-4553 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Primary Care |
| spelling | doaj-art-11f4339754f249b296daf846860443412025-01-19T12:33:49ZengBMCBMC Primary Care2731-45532025-01-0126111010.1186/s12875-025-02704-5Physicians’ and patients’ perceived risks of chronic pain medication and co-medications in Quebec, Canada: a cross-sectional studyGwenaëlle De Clifford-Faugère0Anaïs Lacasse1Hermine Lore Nguena Nguefack2Marimée Godbout-Parent3Aline Boulanger4Nancy Julien5Département des sciences de la santé, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT)Département des sciences de la santé, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT)Département des sciences de la santé, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT)Département des sciences de la santé, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT)Centre d’expertise en gestion de la douleur chronique, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Université de MontréalDépartement des sciences de la santé, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT)Abstract Background The risks associated with medications and co-medications for chronic pain (CP) can influence a physician’s choice of drugs and dosages, as well as a patient’s adherence to the medication. High-quality care requires patients to participate in medication decisions. This study aimed to compare perceived risks of medications and co-medications between physicians and persons living with CP. Methods This cross-sectional survey conducted in Quebec, Canada, included 83 physicians (snowball sampling) and 141 persons living with CP (convenience sampling). Perceived risks of adverse drug reaction of pain medications and co-medications were assessed using 0–10 numerical scales (0 = no risk, 10 = very high risk). An arbitrary cutoff point of 2-points was used to ease the interpretation of our data. Physicians scored the 36 medication subclasses of the Medication Quantification Scale 4.0 (MQS 4.0) through an online survey, while CP patients scored the medication subclasses they had taken in the last three months through telephone interviews. Results Persons living with CP consistently perceived lower risks of adverse drug reaction compared to physicians. For eight subclasses, the difference in the mean perceived risk score was > 2 points and statistically significant (p < 0.05): non-specific oral NSAIDs, acetaminophen in combination with an opioid, short-acting opioids, long-acting opioids, tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and medical cannabis. Conclusions Divergent risk perceptions between physicians and patients underscore the necessity of facilitating a more extensive discussion on medications and co-medications risks to empower patients to make informed decisions and participate in shared decision-making regarding their treatments.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-02704-5Chronic painMedication quantification scale (MQS)Physician patient relationshipMedication risksPatient educationAdverse drug reaction |
| spellingShingle | Gwenaëlle De Clifford-Faugère Anaïs Lacasse Hermine Lore Nguena Nguefack Marimée Godbout-Parent Aline Boulanger Nancy Julien Physicians’ and patients’ perceived risks of chronic pain medication and co-medications in Quebec, Canada: a cross-sectional study BMC Primary Care Chronic pain Medication quantification scale (MQS) Physician patient relationship Medication risks Patient education Adverse drug reaction |
| title | Physicians’ and patients’ perceived risks of chronic pain medication and co-medications in Quebec, Canada: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Physicians’ and patients’ perceived risks of chronic pain medication and co-medications in Quebec, Canada: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Physicians’ and patients’ perceived risks of chronic pain medication and co-medications in Quebec, Canada: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physicians’ and patients’ perceived risks of chronic pain medication and co-medications in Quebec, Canada: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Physicians’ and patients’ perceived risks of chronic pain medication and co-medications in Quebec, Canada: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | physicians and patients perceived risks of chronic pain medication and co medications in quebec canada a cross sectional study |
| topic | Chronic pain Medication quantification scale (MQS) Physician patient relationship Medication risks Patient education Adverse drug reaction |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-02704-5 |
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