Masters Thesis

How the Opioid Epidemic is Affecting Palliative Care Patients

Over the past decade the opioid epidemic has caused many deaths related to drug abuse and addiction in the United States. Palliative and end-of-life care patients rely of various types of opioids to help reduce pain. With new restrictions and regulations, access to prescription opioids has become much harder. The purpose for this study was to explore how the opioid epidemic is affecting palliative and end-of-life care patients. The literature revealed an increase over the last decade of prescription opioids. Multiple factors have aided in the epidemic and since then, regulations and laws have been put in place, making it harder to access prescription opioids. Patients find it difficult receiving proper pain management. Little research has been done on the opioid epidemic and the affect it may have on palliative and end-of-life care patients. Interviews were conducted with eight females from various levels of management in palliative and hospice care organizations. Data was analyzed to develop categories from the participants responses to answer the research question. The categories that were created include: access to prescriptions, alternative medication and treatments, destruction of medications, need for education of MDs, and cultural beliefs. Recommendations were based on the responses from the participants and the literature and included improving the education of physicians and healthcare organizations adoption of evidence-based practices by health care organizations.

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