The role of urine drug testing for patients on opioid therapy.

摘要: Opioid analgesics must be prescribed with discernment and their appropriate use should periodically assessed. Urine drug testing, although not designed specifically for this role, is a widely available familiar method monitoring opioid in chronic pain patients. testing can help track patient compliance expose possible misuse abuse. We sought to evaluate current attitudes practices regarding the of urine among patients taking opioids. To best our knowledge, one first such attempts literature examine document practice patterns context. A total 99 attendees at American Congress Pain Medicine were surveyed 2008 about on therapy. Surprisingly, more was motivated by desire detect undisclosed substances than use. Some respondents never urine-tested patients, two-thirds had no formal training The does thoroughly address role population. Most did random rather scheduled testing; few any protocol. study found motivations varied widely, despite its clinical utility, used consistently.