Authors' objectives:

This review is a call for a common approach across Canada to opioid use in chronic non-cancer pain.

Authors' recommendations: Opioids are not the drug of choice for chronic non-cancer pain, but in an appropriate clinical setting, oral opioids are currently considered an acceptable medical intervention for chronic benign painful conditions. The prescription of opioids must meet current medical practice standards and all legal and regulatory requirements. In the context of Workers' Compensation, long-term opioid prescription for chronic non-cancer pain should only be considered for treatment of an injured worker if: - prescription of opioids is not the first line of treatment; - prescription of opioids is part of an integrated approach to pain management; - there is a written treatment agreement between patient and physician; - there is a primary prescriber; - the route of prescription is oral; - behavioural symptoms that suggest opioids may increase the complexity of the injured worker's problem are carefully considered; - there is evidence that treatment with opioids results in improvement of both pain AND function, enabling the injured worker to return to work; and - there is appropriate oversight by the Workers' Compensation Board.

Authors' methods: Review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.worksafebc.com/health_care_providers/related_information/evid ence_based_medicine/default.asp

Year Published: 2003

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: WorkSafeBC

Contact Address: 6591 Westminster Highway, Richmond, BC, V7C 1C6 Canada. Tel: 604-231-8417; Fax: 604-279-7698

Contact Name: ebpg@worksafebc.com

Contact Email: ebpg@worksafebc.com

Copyright: WorkSafe BC