Dr. Massimo Innamorato, director of the Operative Unit of Pain Relief of Ravenna, is among the authors of an Italian multicentre study entitled “An Italian Expert Consensus on the Use of Opioids for the Management of Chronic Non-Oncological Pain in Clinical Practice: Focus on Buprenorphine “, published on The Journal of Pain Research, official journal of the American Society of Pain & Neuroscience.
“The purpose of the work – explains Dr. Innamorato – was to evaluate the knowledge, prescriptions and habits of the doctors involved in the management of chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP), with particular attention to the use of opioids. The method was used. Delphi, which proposes an interactive survey through several evaluation phases expressed by a group of experts, with the aim of bringing out the most complete and shared opinion. The board included 5 pain therapists, a pharmacologist and a methodology expert. , and drafted a total of 36 statements (with 40 overall responses), based on the literature available on specific and controversial issues relating to pathophysiology and the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain “.
“A total of 100 doctors selected at the Italian national level – continues the doctor – experts in the field of pain management were invited to vote on the proposed statements, indicating the level of agreement on a 5-point Likert scale (1: strongly disagree ; 2: disagree; 3: partially agree; 4: agree; 5: strongly agree) The threshold for minimum consent has been set at 66.6%, with a level of agreement ≥4 (agree or fully agree). Most of the elements proposed reached consensus: 32 out of 40 responses, suggesting a generally homogeneous approach to the management of the CNCP. The lack of consensus was recorded for the statements regarding the use of opioids, with a low level of agreement (3 on the Likert scale), which suggested a neutral position resulting from a lack of knowledge, rather than a strong contrary opinion. However, the lack of consensus recorded for several items concerns nti use of opiates confirms the need to fill important gaps in knowledge of the availability of these drugs. A clear explanation of the unique pharmacological properties of drugs associated with potential clinical benefits (such as buprenorphine) will help optimize pain treatment in both primary and hospital care, improving pain control in CNCP patients. “
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