ArticleJournal of the National Cancer Institute2021
Temporal Trends in Opioid Prescribing Patterns Among Oncologists in the Medicare Population.
Article in Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 31 papers.
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Who cites it
31 citing papers in PubMed, 51 citations in OpenAlex.
- Methodological innovations to advance substance use disorder research: Proceedings of a NIDA workshop on target trial emulation and translational testing of digital health tools.Journal of substance use and addiction treatment · 2026Article
- Medication prescription patterns in cancer rehabilitation physiatry outpatients: A multicenter retrospective study.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Impact of Hydrocodone Rescheduling on Pharmaceutical Pain Management in End-of-Life Lung Cancer Patients.Journal of palliative care · 2026Article
- Understanding pain in malignant mesothelioma: a prospective, longitudinal cohort study.BMC palliative care · 2026Observational
- Machine Learning Prediction and Reducing Overdoses With Electronic Health Record Nudges (mPROVEN) in the Primary Care Setting: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- The impact of opioid prescribing guidelines on opioid dispensation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Canadian journal of pain = Revue canadienne de la douleur · 2026Review
- Trends in Outpatient Opioid Prescriptions for Cancer Pain Between 2016 and 2021.JCO oncology practice · 2025Article
- Beyond Opioids: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Cancer Pain Management.JCO oncology practice · 2025Article
- Effects of Hydrocodone Rescheduling on Pain Management Practices Among Older Breast Cancer Patients.Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.) · 2025Article
- Trends in opioid prescribing by oncologists for Medicare beneficiaries from 2014 to 2022.Journal of managed care & specialty pharmacy · 2025Article
- Opioid prescribing trends and pain scores among adult patients with cancer in a large health system.Cancer · 2025Article
- A short-duration telementoring pain management programme for Medicaid: impact on clinician outcomes.Health education research · 2025Article
- The 2016 CDC Opioid Guideline and Analgesic Prescribing Patterns in Older Adults With Cancer.JAMA network open · 2025Article
- Psychedelics for Cancer Pain and Associated Psychological Distress: A Narrative Review of a Potential Strategy.Cancer medicine · 2025Review
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- Potential role of cannabis in ameliorating observed racialized disparities in cancer pain management.Journal of the National Cancer Institute · 2024Article
- Increased pain in veterans with cancer-time to re-evaluate opioid prescribing practices?JNCI cancer spectrum · 2024Article
- Trends in new and persistent opioid use in older adults with and without cancer.Journal of the National Cancer Institute · 2024Article
- Trajectories and predictors of high-occurrence pain flares in ambulatory cancer patients on opioids.JNCI cancer spectrum · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundIn the wake of the US opioid epidemic, there have been efforts to curb opioid prescribing. However, it is unknown whether these efforts have affected prescribing among oncologists, whose patients often require opioids for symptom management. We investigated temporal patterns in opioid prescribing for Medicare beneficiaries among oncologists and nononcologists.
methodsWe queried the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Part D prescriber dataset for all physicians between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2017. We used population-averaged multivariable negative binomial regression to estimate the association between time and per-provider opioid and gabapentinoid prescribing rate, defined as the annual number of drug claims (original prescriptions and refills) per beneficiary, among oncologists and nononcologists on a national and state level.
resultsFrom 2013 to 2017, the national opioid-prescribing rate declined by 20.7% (P < .001) among oncologists and 22.8% (P < .001) among non oncologists. During this time frame, prescribing of gabapentin increased by 5.9% (P < .001) and 23.1% (P < .001) among oncologists and nononcologists, respectively. Among palliative care providers, opioid prescribe increased by 15.3% (P < .001). During the 5-year period, 43 states experienced a decrease (P < .05) in opioid prescribing among oncologists, and in 5 states, opioid prescribing decreased more among oncologists than nononcologists (P < .05).
conclusionsBetween 2013 and 2017, the opioid-prescribing rate statistically significantly decreased nationwide among oncologists and nononcologists, respectively. Given similar declines in opioid prescribing among oncologists and nononcologists, there is concern that opioid-prescribing guidelines intended for the noncancer population are being applied inappropriately to patients with cancer and cancer survivors.
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