Ottawa pilot project cuts opioid use among chronic pain patients

The project aimed to understand if the care of chronic pain patients offered by family physicians can be improved. Family doctors are on the frontline of pain treatment since pain clinics in Ont. have long wait lists. The pilot study also highlights the importance of family health teams. As part of the pilot, a nurse met with patients to discuss how lifestyle changes (improvements to exercise, diet, drinking, smoking and sleep habits) could allow them to manage their own pain and reduce their reliance on opioids. Personal histories were reviewed, including traumatic childhood events and those with unresolved issues were referred to social workers or psychologists. Twenty-one percent of patients reported a reduction in their pain levels and nearly half said their pain interfered less with daily activities. By the end of the study, 42.9% of patients who used opioids reduced their dosages.