Comprehensive Pain Management

Faculty

Charles E. Argoff, MD
Professor of Neurology
Albany Medical College
Director, Comprehensive Pain Center
Albany Medical Center
Albany, New York

Jeffrey A. Gudin, MD
Clinical Instructor, Anesthesiology
Mount Sinai University School of Medicine
New York, New York
Director, Pain Management and Palliative Care
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center
Englewood, New Jersey

Anthony J. Lembo, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Director, GI Motility Laboratory
Harvard Medical School
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts

Target Audience

The educational design of this activity addresses the needs of pain specialists and other health care providers involved in the treatment of patients with opioid-induced constipation (OIC).

Statement of Need/Program Overview

Although as many as half of patients on long-term opioid therapy experience symptoms of constipation, this common side effect is often not addressed by clinicians, leaving many individuals to suffer in silence.^1,2 Unmanaged opioid-induced constipation can result in a number of medical complications, impair quality of life, and cause patients to skip doses of their opioid treatment.³ Do you know which of your patients is experiencing opioid-induced constipation? What strategies do you employ to help ease the symptoms of constipation in your opioid-treated patients? Join us for a practical and engaging discussion among experts in pain management and gastroenterology. During this program, faculty will share recommendations for efficiently assessing bowel patterns and prescribing both prophylactic and more intensive bowel regimens. The goal is to help pain-treating clinicians gain a deeper understanding of the effects of opioids on the gastrointestinal tract and effective strategies to alleviate constipation symptoms in patients on chronic opioid therapy.  

References

1. Cook SF, Lanza L, Zhou X, et al. Gastrointestinal side effects in chronic opioid users: results from a population-based survey. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2008;27(12):1224-1232.
2. Coyne KS, LoCasale RJ, Datto CJ, et al. Opioid-induced constipation in patients with chronic noncancer pain in the USA, Canada, Germany, and the UK: descriptive analysis of baseline patient-reported outcomes and retrospective chart review. Clinicoecon Outcomes Res. 2014;6:269-281.
3. Bell TJ, Panchal SJ, Miaskowski C, et al. The prevalence, severity, and impact of opioid-induced bowel dysfunction: results of a US and European Patient Survey (PROBE 1). Pain Med. 2009;10(1):35-42.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

1. Evaluate baseline bowel habits, risk factors for OIC development, and ongoing changes in bowel function in patients on long-term opioid therapy
2. Implement a prophylactic treatment plan to address OIC concurrent with the initiation of opioid therapy
3. Analyze current pharmacotherapies for OIC based on mechanisms of action and data on efficacy and safety
4. Tailor treatment regimens for patients experiencing OIC according to symptom severity, past treatment responses, and patient preferences
5. Collaborate with primary care and other providers to ensure that opioid-treated patients are routinely assessed for changes in bowel habits

Physician Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Global Education Group (Global) and Integritas Communications. Global is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician Credit Designation

Global Education Group designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing Continuing Education

Global Education Group is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s COA.

This educational activity for 1.0 contact hour is provided by Global Education Group. Nurses should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Pharmacist Accreditation Statement

Global Education Group is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

Credit Designation

Global Education Group designates this continuing education activity for 1.0 contact hour(s) (0.1 CEUs) of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. (Universal Activity Number - 0530-9999-15-210-H01-P) This is a knowledge-based activity.

Global Contact Information

For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact Global at 303-395-1782 or inquire@globaleducationgroup.com.

Instructions to Receive Credit

In order to receive credit, participants must complete the preactivity questionnaire, posttest, and program evaluation. Participants must also score at least 70% on the posttest. Certificates will be distributed online at the conclusion of the activity.

Fee Information & Refund/Cancellation Policy

There is no fee for this educational activity.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Global Education Group (Global) requires instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals and their spouses/life partners who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by Global for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations.

The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouses/life partners have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Charles E. Argoff, MD Speakers Bureau for Allergan, Inc.; AstraZeneca plc; Depomed, Inc.; Iroko Pharmaceuticals, LLC; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Millennium Laboratories; and Xenoport, Inc. Grant/Research Support from Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., Forest Laboratories, and Eli Lilly and Company.  Consultant/Independent Contractor to AstraZeneca plc; Depomed, Inc.; Endo Pharmaceuticals; Nektar Therapeutics; Pfizer Inc.; Xenoport, Inc.; and Zogenix, Inc. Stock Shareholder of Depomed, Inc. and Pfizer Inc. Royalties from Elsevier B.V.

Jeffrey A. Gudin, MD Speakers Bureau for AstraZeneca plc; Depomed, Inc.; INSYS Therapeutics, Inc.; Iroko Pharmaceuticals, LLC; kaleo, Inc.; Purdue Pharma L.P.; Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.; and XenoPort, Inc. Grant/Research support from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Consultant/Independent contractor to  AstraZeneca plc.; INSYS Therapeutics, Inc.; Iroko Pharmaceuticals LLC; Purdue Pharma L.P.; Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.; and Zogenix, Inc.

Anthony J. Lembo, MD Consultant/Independent contractor to AstraZeneca plc; Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Prometheus Laboratories Inc.; and Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Grant/Research Support from Prometheus Laboratories Inc.

The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouses/life partners have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Ashley Marostica, RN, MSN; Amanda Glazar, PhD; Andrea Funk and Rose O’Connor, PhD have nothing to disclose

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. Global Education Group (Global) and Integritas Communications do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.  

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization associated with this activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of patient conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.