Screening chronic pain patients for drugs may result in patients not returning for future treatment, according to a University of Houston and University of Galveston-based Texas Medical Branch study.
The researchers analyzed medical records of 4,448 clinic encounters for 723 patients between April 2009 and January 2012. Pain Physician published the study in its February edition.
Here are six takeaways:
1. The study found 23.75 percent of chronic pain patients who underwent urine drug screening tests on their first visits did not show up for their next appointments.
2. Only 10 percent of chronic pain patients who were not screened for drugs failed to show up for future appointments.
3. Of the patients who tested positive for drugs, 34.57 percent did not show up for their next appointments. Of those who tested negative, 21.47 percent did not show up for future appointments.
4. The study raises alarm about chronic pain patients' behavior, as drug testing may disengage them from clinics.
5. The study authors concluded, "This raises concerns that the [screenings] administered early in the doctor-patient relationship might have an inadvertent impact on injuring patient expectations of trust."
6. The researchers did not suggest physicians stop drug screenings, but rather understand the implications of drug screening for chronic pain patients.
