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Opioid therapy in Vietnam: healthcare providers and policymakers/regulators knowledge, attitudes, and barriers

Oral Presentation Concurrent Sessions
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Oral Presentation - Concurrent Sessions

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Facing the challenges

Presentation Description

Institution: Flinders University - South Australia , Australia

Background:
Opioid therapy is the cornerstone of pain management in oncology settings. However, multiple studies have indicated that opioids are not adequately provided to patients with cancer pain in Vietnam. 
 
Objectives:
This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, and perceived barriers among healthcare providers, policymakers/regulators in Vietnam toward administering opioids for cancer pain.
 
Methods:
 We conducted a cross-sectional study on healthcare providers and regulators/policymakers across Vietnam from June to August 2022.  We invited participants to complete a questionnaire on demographic and professional characteristics, knowledge and attitude regarding opioid therapy, and perceived barriers to opioid accessibility in cancer pain.   
 
Results:
A total of 207 healthcare providers and 15 policymakers/regulators completed the questionnaire. Regarding knowledge, 63.3% of healthcare providers and 80.0% of policymakers/regulators had poor knowledge about opioids in cancer pain. Poor knowledge of opioid analgesia was associated with not receiving training in cancer pain management and palliative care (PR:1.14; 95%CI:1.04-1.24). Regarding attitude, 64.7% of healthcare providers and 80.0% of policymakers/regulators held negative attitudes toward opioid therapy in cancer pain. The negative attitude was associated with the unavailability of oral morphine in the workplace (PR:1.11; 95%CI: 1.01-1.20). The most common major barriers reported by respondents included the lack of national policy on pain management and palliative care (34.7%), inadequate training in opioid use for cancer pain (33.8%), limited opioid availability in local health facilities (32.4%), and the administrative burden for cancer patients in obtaining opioids at the pharmacy (32.4%). 
 
Conclusions:
This study revealed a significant knowledge deficit and negative attitude regarding the administration of opioids for cancer pain among healthcare providers and policymakers/regulators. Enhancing education and training in opioid therapy for cancer pain is therefore essential. Major barriers identified in our study might navigate effective and targeted strategies to improve opioid accessibility for cancer pain management in Vietnam.

Presenters

Thi Trang Nguyen

Postgraduate student
Flinders University

Authors

Authors

BPharm Thi Trang Nguyen - Flinders University, Australia; University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam , MD, MPH Tung Pham - Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, USA; Hanoi Medical University, Vietnam , BPharm Hoang Anh Dam - National Geriatric Hospital, Vietnam , MD, PhD Eric Lewis Krakauer - University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Division of Palliative Care and Geriatric Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, USA , MPharm Le Thuy Nguyen Truong - Institute of Outcome Research, Center for Medical Data Science, Medical University of Vienna, Austria , BPharm Quan Nhu Hao Nguyen - University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam , MD, MPH Linh Bui - Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, USA; Research Advancement Consortium in Health, Vietnam , MD, MSC Dai Duong Le - University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam , MD, PhD The Than - University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam , PhD Doan-Trang Dang-Nguyen - University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam , BPharm Que Phuong Tran - University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam , BPharm Thi Thuy Duong Nguyen - Children’s Hospital 1, Vietnam

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