Medication prescription patterns in cancer rehabilitation physiatry outpatients: A multicenter retrospective study.
Matthew Chen, Nafis Eghrari, David Leong and 5 others
PMID 41603305WHAT IT FOUND
Opioids and neuropathic pain medicines were the most frequently prescribed medication categories in outpatient cancer rehabilitation visits, at 14.5% and 11.3% of encounters, with clear differences between institutions.
Key findings
01Opioids and membrane stabilizers were the most frequently prescribed medication categories, at 14.5% and 11.3% of encounters.
02Medications outside the predefined categories were prescribed in 9.2% of encounters.
03Prescribing rates differed between institutions for all medication categories except nonopioid analgesics, antibiotics, and corticosteroids.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
This was a retrospective chart review, so it could not determine why medications were prescribed, including patient acuity, cancer type, or treatment context. The study counted prescriptions at visits and did not measure pain, function, or other patient outcomes. Refill information was missing, which could overrepresent opioids because they are monitored closely and may require more frequent visits. Over-the-counter medicines, especially nonprescription analgesics, are likely underrepresented. Medications prescribed by palliative care specialists, oncologists, or other team members may not have been captured. The sample came from three academic institutions and a small number of providers, so it may not represent all cancer rehabilitation practices. The data were from March 23, 2020 to August 31, 2021, a pandemic period, and telemedicine versus in-person medication details were not analysed for all institutions. A fourth institution was excluded because specific medication details were unavailable.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these prescribing rates as evidence that any medication helps cancer rehabilitation outcomes. The study counted prescriptions at visits and did not assess pain, function, or symptom change.