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Chronic Pain
There are more than 100 million people who experience chronic pain. This may include pain due to osteoarthritis, strained muscles or bulging or ruptured disks in the lower back region, digestive conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, or other known or unknown causes. Although pain can be an important indicator of acute injury, chronic pain is burdensome and difficult to manage. One major problem in treating chronic pain lies with opioid pharmacological agents; they are sometimes abused or diverted and have a high risk of overdose. Therefore, now guidelines for prescription of opioid medications in the treatment of chronic pain, focusing on mitigating their risks with a patient-centred approach to care have been recently released. These guidelines recommend use of short-acting medications, frequent follow-ups, and use of compliance measures such as pill counts, urine drug screening, and checking for patients’ histories of refilling controlled medications.
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Question of
The purpose of the paragraph is to:
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Report on the rise of misuse of prescription drugs.
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Remind medical practitioners about a change in rules.
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Explain the background to a change in patient care.
Correct Wrong
The paragraph describes the issues associated with treating chronic pain, particularly the risks associated with opioid medications. It explains why new guidelines for prescribing opioids have been introduced, including measures to mitigate risks and enhance patient care. The focus is on explaining the background and rationale for the changes in patient care related to opioid prescription. Options A and B are not relevant to the content of the paragraph, which does not discuss misuse of drugs or changes in rules but rather provides context for updated patient care practices.
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