Insight into chronic pain in the United States: descriptive results from the Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire (POMAQ) validation study

Abstract

Objective: A chronic pain patient sample living in the United States who participated in a cross-sectional study to evaluate the validity and reproducibility of the Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire is characterized.

Methods: Patients with chronic pain identified through electronic medical records as refilling at least one opioid prescription within the prior 3 months were recruited from five United States Department of Defense Military Health System clinics. Patients completed the Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire, Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form, Medical Outcomes Study: 36-item Short Form, and sociodemographic questions online. Clinical characteristics and electronic medical records for 1 year prior to consent were collected.

Results: 809 (86.2%) participants completed the Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire. Mean (± standard deviation) age was 55.4 ± 12.7 years; the majority female (55.5%) and white (74.8%). Mean duration of chronic pain was 14.7 ± 10.5 years; the most common pain conditions were lower back pain (76.6%), neck or shoulder pain (60.3%), and osteoarthritis (38.7%). The most commonly prescribed opioids were oxycodone (35.7%), tramadol (34.5%), and hydrocodone (26.9%); 54.8% took one opioid, 44.9% took 2 or more opioids.

Discussion: Participants' health status was poor; pain severity and interference were moderate. Electronic medical record data revealed high healthcare resource utilization. This chronic pain population was severely impacted by their pain condition(s).

Keywords: Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire (POMAQ); chronic pain; prescription opioid misuse; prescription opioids.