Characterizing Opioid Prescribing Trends of Medical Oncologists From 2013 to 2019: Analysis From the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Medicare Part D Prescribers Database.
Mark R KorstMarco Santos TelesHassaam S ChoudhryJoseph G SantitoroDaniel J GarciaSophia Marie T SchwabJoshua A KraPublished in: JCO oncology practice (2023)
Opioid prescriptions by medical oncologists decreased significantly from 2013 to 2019, but this decrease was most substantial from 2017 to 2019. These results may imply that the 2016 CDC guidelines influenced medical oncologists, particularly more junior physicians in urban settings, to manage chronic cancer pain with alternative therapies.