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The Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire (POMAQ) was developed to identify prescription opioid misuse and abuse among patients with chronic pain. A clinical scoring algorithm was developed and refined to align with the patient experience. This study utilized data from the POMAQ validation study (3033-4, NCT02660606) conducted on a sample of patients with chronic pain living in the United States. The study was carried out in two phases. Two purposefully enriched patient samples, one for each phase, were created based on patient responses to select POMAQ items and the availability of urine and hair samples. Two clinical experts (SHS, SFB) reviewed patient data to classify prescription opioid use behavior. Classification differences were adjudicated by a third clinical expert (JTF). Comparisons were made between the final clinical classification determined by the experts and the proposed classification based on the POMAQ algorithm. Sixty patients were included in Phase I (only POMAQ data) and 52 in Phase II (including POMAQ and ancillary sources [e.g. electronic medical records, urine toxicity screen]). Refinements were made to the POMAQ scoring algorithm following discussions with clinical experts to ensure it was clinically relevant. For both phases, classifications were reviewed and discussed to achieve maximal concordance of classifications across experts. The proposed scoring algorithm was then modified to maximize agreement with the expert interpretation of clinically relevant patient experiences. The clinical scoring algorithm for the POMAQ was developed and refined to reflect clinically relevant patient behaviors identified by expert review. Future testing is needed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this measure.

To identify patient risk factors associated with prescription opioid misuse and abuse as well as groupings of misuse and abuse behaviors as measured by the Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire (POMAQ). Adults with chronic pain requiring long-term treatment with opioids completed the POMAQ and other study questionnaires. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to examine underlying subgroups exhibiting particular risk profiles. Patient demographic and clinical characteristics were examined as covariates and the concordance between the identified latent classes at-risk classifications and the POMAQ clinical scoring algorithm was assessed. Analysis of data from 809 patients revealed four classes: “chronic pain, low risk” (n = 473, low to no prevalence of POMAQ behaviors), “chronic pain, comorbid condition” (n = 152, high prevalence of anti-anxiety, sleeping pill, and antihistamine use), “at risk” (n = 154, taking more opioids than prescribed and drinking alcohol with opioids more frequently than other groups), and “high risk” (n = 30, highest prevalence of each behavior). The “high risk” group was associated with being younger, less educated, and unemployed compared to other groups. When examining the LCA classes by groups defined by the original POMAQ clinical scoring algorithm, the “high risk” class had the highest proportion of participants identified with abuse behaviors (46.7%), compared to just 4.7% in the “chronic pain, low risk” group. Findings suggest there are four distinct subgroups of patients defined by chronic opioid misuse and abuse behaviors and support the use of the POMAQ to identify risk factors associated with prescription opioid misuse and abuse.

A chronic pain patient sample living in the United States who participated in a cross-sectional study to evaluate the validity and reproducibility of the Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire is characterized.Patients with chronic pain identified through electronic medical records as refilling at least one opioid prescription within the prior 3 months were recruited from five United States Department of Defense Military Health System clinics. Patients completed the Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire, Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form, Medical Outcomes Study: 36-item Short Form, and sociodemographic questions online. Clinical characteristics and electronic medical records for 1 year prior to consent were collected.809 (86.2%) participants completed the Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire. Mean (± standard deviation) age was 55.4 ± 12.7 years; the majority female (55.5%) and white (74.8%). Mean duration of chronic pain was 14.7 ± 10.5 years; the most common pain conditions were lower back pain (76.6%), neck or shoulder pain (60.3%), and osteoarthritis (38.7%). The most commonly prescribed opioids were oxycodone (35.7%), tramadol (34.5%), and hydrocodone (26.9%); 54.8% took one opioid, 44.9% took 2 or more opioids.Participants' health status was poor; pain severity and interference were moderate. Electronic medical record data revealed high healthcare resource utilization. This chronic pain population was severely impacted by their pain condition(s).

The Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire was developed to identify prescription opioid abuse and misuse among patients with chronic pain, however evidence of construct validity and reproducibility is needed. Chronic pain patients were recruited from five Department of Defense Military Health System clinics across the United States. Construct validity was examined using subjective clinician-reported and patient-reported measures as well as objective information (e.g., hair/urine drug screens and electronic medical records). Test-retest reliability was assessed across 2-time points among a subgroup of patients with stable chronic pain. Of 3,263 screened patients, 938 (28.7%) met eligibility and were enrolled; 809 (86.2%) completed the Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire. Construct validity was supported by comparison to other validated questionnaires and hair and urine screens which yielded high agreements with patient reports on the Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire. Electronic medical record data supported patients’ Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire responses regarding physician and emergency room visits and opioid refills. The Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire had excellent test-retest reliability; the percentage agreement between the two Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire administrations was high (>90%) for most questions. Results suggest that the Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire is a valid and reproducible tool that can be used to assess the presence of prescription opioid misuse and abuse among patients with chronic pain.

Content validation is essential in the development of patient-reported instruments to ensure relevancy and understandability. The aim was to evaluate patient understanding of the Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire (POMAQ) using cognitive interviewing among adults with chronic moderate to severe pain.This qualitative study involved a one-time in-clinic visit to conduct one-on-one cognitive interviews among participants with chronic moderate to severe pain from four groups: (1) Known Opioid Abuse; (2) Known Abuse of Other Substances (e.g. alcohol, benzodiazepines); (3) Opioid Non-abuse; and (4) No Chronic Opioid Use. Patients were recruited from 6 US clinical centers. Concept elicitation questions regarding misuse and abuse were asked at interview start; the POMAQ was completed56 patients were enrolled. Mean age was 48.7 ± 12.3 years; 57% female; 80% Caucasian; mean duration of chronic pain was 11.2 ± 8.2 years with lower back pain predominating at 75%. Overall, the POMAQ was well-understood and received positive feedback. A few (The POMAQ demonstrated content validity among patients with moderate to severe chronic pain and is undergoing psychometric evaluation among a larger cohort of patients.

International audience; Tinea imbricata, also known as ‘Tokelau’, is an uncommon superficial mycosis caused by the anthropophilic dermatophyte Trichophyton concentricum. Cutaneous lesions appear characteristically as scaly and concentric rings that may cover all parts of the body. Often acquired in childhood, tinea imbricata is a chronic disease and lichenification is extremely common due to pruritus. The dermatophytosis mainly occurs in the South Pacific, but also in some regions of Southeast Asia and Central or South America. Tinea imbricata usually affects people living in primitive and isolated conditions. Mycological analysis is required for the diagnosis. The epidemiological and mycological study reported here took place in the Solomon Islands from June–September 2006. Skin scrapings were collected from 29 Melanesian patients (aged 8 months to 58 years) with chronic cutaneous lesions and were analysed mycologically in the Laboratory of Parasitology and Mycology of Angers University Hospital (France). Ten patients showed very evocative lesions with a positive direct examination, but T. concentricum was only isolated from three patients. Identification of the strains was confirmed by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. With the increase in international travel, one cannot disregard that this very rare species may be isolated by mycologists in temperate areas from patients coming from endemic foci.