Self Reported Deviations From Opioid Analgesic Prescription

Primary Objective: 1. To determine the frequency of self-reported over and under use of opioid analgesics in patients with advanced cancer. Patients with advanced cancer are those patients who have been described to have either one of the following: recurrent disease, those that have failed multiple chemotherapies (more than second line therapy), locally advanced disease, and metastatic disease. Secondary Objectives: 1. To determine the association between patients' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about opioids, and frequency of deviation in opioid use with patients' demographic information. 2. To determine association between alcohol abuse/chemical coping and self-reported deviations in opioid use. 3. To determine the association between the use of opioids and patient-related barriers to opioid use.

Sex

All

Minimum age

18 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients must be at least 18 years old and have a diagnosis of advanced cancer.
2. Patients must be given prescriptions for around the clock (ATC) and as needed (for breakthrough pain) oral opioids for cancer pain on the previous visit to the Palliative Care Clinic.
3. Patients must be able to understand, read, write, and speak English.
4. Patients must have no clinical evidence of cognitive impairment, as determined by the primary palliative care physician.
5. Patients must sign an informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who have the caregiver as the primary person that does the management of opioid medication intake will be excluded as analysis is focused on patients' and not the family or caregivers' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs as it relates to the primary objective.