Tele-HOPE: A Telehealth Pharmacist Opioid Patient Education Pilot Study

This clinical trial will evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of a palliative care pharmacist-led group telehealth opioid education session for palliative care patients prescribed opioids for cancer-related pain. While opioids are commonly used in palliative care settings to manage cancer-related pain, their significant side effects, complicated administration requirements, and concerns about addiction can make it challenging for patients to use opioids safely and effectively. Some patients may even avoid opioids altogether because of these concerns, even when opioids are clinically indicated, leading to poor symptom control. To address these challenges, a telehealth education session was developed as a clinical initiative by a palliative care pharmacist, addressing safe and effective opioid management. Educational priorities and session content were informed by a survey of interdisciplinary palliative care clinicians that identified barriers and facilitators to opioid education and key patient educational needs. Patients scheduled to attend a pharmacist-led group telehealth opioid education session who enroll in the study will complete a survey before the session and another survey afterward. This study will assess the feasibility and acceptability of delivering the intervention, as well as its preliminary effects on opioid knowledge and self-efficacy. If feasible and acceptable, this pharmacist-led telehealth education model could represent a scalable strategy to improve opioid management for patients with cancer-related pain.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years, consistent with the population of patients treated at Fred Hutch Cancer Center * A cancer diagnosis * Established care in the Fred Hutch Palliative Care Clinic (≥ 1 visit with a Fred Hutch palliative care physician or advanced practice provider within the past 12 months) * Prescribed opioids, defined as either ≥ 1 opioid prescription within the past 6 months documented in the Washington Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), or a new opioid prescription initiated by the referring palliative care provider at the time of referral * Ability to understand and willingness to agree to an electronic consent document * Enrolled in MyChart and ability to participate in a telehealth video visit Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who prefer a language other than English for healthcare, as the session will be conducted live and cannot currently be offered in other languages