Date
9-25-2025
Department
School of Health Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences (PhD)
Chair
Colleen E. Law
Keywords
Opioid Alternatives, Opioids, Chronic Non-Cancer Pain, Elderly Population, Providers' Perspectives
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Recommended Citation
Iloegbunam, Okey, "Non-Opioid Alternatives for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain Management in the Elderly: A Provider’s Perspective" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7498.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7498
Abstract
Chronic non-cancer pain is a major public health problem in the United States. The use of opioids for chronic non-cancer pain treatment has a negative impact on the quality of life of the elderly. This study aimed to explore non-opioid alternatives for chronic pain management in the elderly. It aims to explore the perspectives of pain practitioners at My Pain Center in Tucson, Arizona, in choosing non-opioid alternatives for chronic pain treatment. The study aimed to explore the factors that influence pain practitioners’ prescribing habits and how to replace opioids in treating chronic non-cancer pain in the elderly. This study was guided by constructivist grounded theory and the Health Belief Model. Data was collected through semi-structured questionnaires and phone interviews. The study showed that many non-opioid alternatives, including NSAIDs, acetaminophen, physical therapy, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, chiropractic adjustments, cognitive behavioral therapy, and interventional medical procedures, are available for chronic pain management in the elderly population. Health history, medication use history, and comorbidities influence practitioners’ prescribing habits at My Pain Center. Practitioners' perspectives on the use of opioids or non-opioids were centered on attitudes towards opioids. The elderly are more susceptible to opioid-related side effects and interactions than younger patients. Conditions associated with aging were taken into consideration when selecting pain treatments for the elderly. Replacing opioids with non-opioid alternatives in chronic pain treatment will involve educating the public, especially the elderly population. For now, opioids and non-opioid alternatives will complement each other in chronic non-cancer pain management in the elderly.
