Question

Some health care providers make patients feel like there is a stigma attached to the use of medications for chronic pain. Discuss any barriers you see that might prevent your colleagues in your clinical practice from responding to a patient in this manner.

Answer 1

Stigma is one of the major barrier for providing effective ,passionate and empathetic care to the patient. Stigma associated with use of medication for chronic pain is lie on patient, health care personal and society.

Stigma and patient: The major stigma associated with opioid use are the patient fear about criticism by family and community hence  they never seek treatment for chronic pain.

:stigma and health care personal :the misuse of opioid medication is common, the assessment of pain also difficult,so most of the clinician not prescribe the pain medication or over referral happened, this may result in loss of clinician and patient relation and trust. The health care personal also have stigma regarding use of opioid medication, they always perceive the addiction and behavioural problem or adverse effects of these medication rather than their use of the medication.

Stigma and society :the society also criticise to the use opioid. The consider opioid is a substance that alter the mental status so they always shame and judge the people who use opioid for pain.

From the above question, I experience stigma among my colleague regarding opioid use and chronic pain. One of the patient enter the clinic and she ask physician who prescribe opioid medication to that patient at that time my colleague says that that patient is addicted with opioid and she have mental problems. This is an example of stigma related to chronic pain and medication. This is also a barrier because the patient feel distrust and emotional stress this will prevent provision of quality and need based care.

How to overcome this barrier

:proper orientation to the health care personal regarding chronic pain and use of medication.

:evaluate the occurance of stigma and take measures to prevent reoccurance.

:educate patient regarding treatment plan for chronic pain.

:keep a record for medication details and patient details.

:Make a treatment plan for chronic pain.