Concerns about medication and medication adherence in patients with chronic pain recruited from general practice
- 1The Leuven Center for Algology and Pain Management, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- 2Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Correspondence to Susan Broekmans
University Hospitals Leuven - The Leuven Center for Algology and Pain Management, Weligerveld 1 Pellenberg 3212, Belgium; susan.broekmans{at}uzleuven.be
Implications for nursing practice and research
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■ Patient concerns and beliefs about medication are associated with overuse and underuse of medication.
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■ Identifying and addressing these concerns may improve adherence.
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■ Further research is needed to examine whether training of healthcare practitioners (including nurses) has an effect on patients' concerns and medication adherence.
Context
Chronic non-malignant pain is a long-lasting condition, with a complex pathophysiology, often accompanied with dysfunctional pain behaviour. Chronic pain affects about 19% of the population in Europe.1 Due to the complex nature of chronic pain, its treatment needs a multidisciplinary and multimodal approach. Still, medication remains a cornerstone of chronic …
