• Author: William C. Becker
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Summit program to taper long-term opioid therapy in Veterans: A mixed-methods feasibility study

Abstract: Due to the harms associated with long-term opioid therapy and, often, the lack of benefit, it is guideline concordant to offer patients the opportunity to engage in a …

Appropriate clinical response following opioid overdose: A retrospective analysis within the Veterans Health Administration system

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Opioid overdose (OD) remains a pressing public health crisis in the United States, with substantial gaps in postoverdose care, particularly among veterans. …

Use of complementary and integrative health therapies and chiropractic care among patients receiving long-term opioid therapy in the Department of Veterans Affairs

Abstract: Background: Use of complementary and integrative health (CIH) therapies has increased over the past two decades. Accumulating evidence supports the effectiveness of CIH …

Initial long-term opioid prescriptions among Veterans with and without kidney disease

Abstract:Approximately 50% of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have chronic pain. This pain is often severe and associated with poor quality of life, contributing to …

Characteristics of Veterans receiving medication for opioid use disorder: An observational cohort study

Abstract:The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest provider of opioid use disorder (OUD) care in the United States. Providing access to life-saving medications for …

Incorporating patient and provider voices into the Veterans pain care organizational improvement comparative effectiveness study: Informing future implementation

Abstract: Background: Clinicians and healthcare systems have little evidence available to guide effective strategies to manage pain while reducing opioid use. The Veterans Pain …

What makes for a positive patient experience in chronic pain care? A qualitative evaluation of factors affecting Veteran patient satisfaction across two individualized pain care interventions in VA primary care

Abstract: Background: Veterans are at high risk for pain-related disability, medication overdose, and opioid-related deaths. In response, Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare systems …

What makes for a positive patient experience in chronic pain care? A qualitative evaluation of factors affecting Veteran patient satisfaction across two individualized pain care interventions in VA primary care

Abstract: Background: Veterans are at high risk for pain-related disability, medication overdose, and opioid-related deaths. In response, Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare systems …

Disparities in receipt of medications for opioid use disorder before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US Veterans Health Administration

Abstract: Background: Populations disproportionately impacted by the opioid epidemic are less likely to receive medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD; OUD). The COVID-19 …

Guideline concordant opioid therapy in Veterans receiving VA and community care

Abstract: Guideline concordant opioid therapy is a key part of the concerted effort to address the opioid crisis in the United States. The study aimed to compare the rates of …

Factors associated with participation in a walking intervention for Veterans who smoke and have chronic pain

Abstract: This analysis was part of the Pain and Smoking Study (PASS), a randomized trial of a cognitive behavioral intervention (CBI) for Veterans with chronic pain who smoke. The …

Implementation, intervention, and downstream costs for implementation of a multidisciplinary complex pain clinic in the Veterans Health Administration

Abstract: Objective: To determine the budget impact of implementing multidisciplinary complex pain clinics (MCPCs) for Veterans Health Administration (VA) patients living with …