Korean J Pain.  2020 Jul;33(3):234-244. 10.3344/kjp.2020.33.3.234.

Patients’ perception about opioids and addiction in South Korea

• Kim CL
• Hong SJ
• Lim YH
• Jeong JH
• Moon HS
• Choi HR
• Park SK
• Kim JE
• You H
• Kim JH

• KMID: 2504069
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2020.33.3.234

Abstract

Background
Chronic pain affects approximately 22% of the world’s population. Opioids can be useful in chronic pain management. However, some patients have negative perception of opioids. The purpose of this research was to evaluate patients’ perception about opioids and investigate problems associated with prescribing and taking opioids in South Korea.
Methods
Patients who visited a pain clinic in 14 university hospitals of South Korea from September through October 2018 were asked to complete anonymous questionnaires about taking opioids.
Results
Of the 368 patients that were surveyed (female 53.3%, male 46.7%), 56.8% were prescribed opioids. In the opioid group, 92.8% patients had heard of opioids from their doctor and 72.6% of them had a positive perception about opioids. The side effects associated with opioid use were constipation (35.4%), dizziness (24.6%), nausea and vomiting (17.4%), dysuria (6.2%), and addiction (2.0%). In the no opioid group, the primary sources of information about opioids were doctors (49.2%), mass media (30.8%), and the internet (16.2%). The main reasons why 39.0% patients did not take opioids were fear of addiction (57.7%) and side effects (38.5%). There were 71.5% and 60.9% patients in the opioid and no opioid group, respectively, who wished to take opioids when their numeric rating scale pain score was ≥ 7.
Conclusions
Perception of opioids among patients who take them was either neutral or positive. However, 39.0% patients who have not been prescribed opioids did not want an opioid prescription, citing fear of addiction and side effects as the primary reasons.

Keyword

Analgesics, Opioid; Behavior, Addictive; Chronic Pain; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Opioid-Related Disorders; Outpatients; Pain Management; Physicians; Surveys and Questionnaires

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Have you ever been prescribed opioids? (asked in both the opioid groups).

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  Fig. 2 What are the most severe side effects that you have experienced? (asked in the opioid group).

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  Fig. 3 (A) Did your doctor ask you regarding opioids and explain their side effects? (asked in the opioid group). (B) What is your perception regarding opioid medication? (asked in the opioid group).

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  Fig. 4 (A) In Korea, public health insurance provides coverage for the prescription of opioids up to 30 days for the non-cancer pain treatment. What is your opinion regarding this limit? (asked in the opioid group). (B) If you think this limit should be increased, then please tell us why? (C) If you think this limit should be decreased, then please tell us why?

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  Fig. 5 (A) In Korea, public health insurance provides coverage for opioid prescription for pain treatment. Insurance covered opioid dosage is non-restricted for the cancer pain treatment, but it is limited for the non-cancer pain treatment. What is your opinion regarding this limit on opioid dosage? (asked in the opioid group). (B) If you think insurable prescription dosages should be increased, then please tell us why? (C) If you think insurable prescription dosages should be decreased, then please tell us why?

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  Fig. 6 (A) If your physician informs you regarding the requirement to prescribe opioids for pain control, would you consume them? (asked in the no opioid group). (B) If you deny, then please tell us why?

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  Fig. 7 What is your source of opioid information? (asked in the no opioid group).

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  Fig. 8 Did you know that differences between medically prescribed opioids and illegally distributed drugs exist? (asked in both the opioid groups).

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  Fig. 9 What is the pain score at which you would start taking opioids if they are prescribed? (asked in both the opioid groups).

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