Telehealth acceptability and opioid prescribing patterns of providers of painful chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of sickle cell providers.

OBJECTIVE

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a rapid transition to telehealth services. It is unclear how subspecialists managing painful chronic diseases-such as sickle cell disease (SCD), an inherited hemoglobinopathy with significant disparities in access and outcomes-have viewed the transition to tele-health or altered their pain management practices. This study elicits the views of sickle cell providers regarding their transition to telehealth and their opioid prescribing patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN

An anonymous online survey was sent to eligible sickle cell providers.

SETTING

Comprehensive sickle cell centers and/or clinics across the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Physicians and advanced practice providers providing care to SCD patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Respondents answered questions regarding their (1) views of telehealth compared to in-person encounters and (2) opioid prescribing practices during the early months of the pandemic.

RESULTS

Of the 130 eligible participants, 53 respondents from 35 different sickle cell centers completed at least 90 percent of the survey. Respondents reported a significant increase in telehealth encounters for routine and acute appointments (mean difference and standard deviation: 57.6 ± 31.9 percent, p < 0.001 and 24.4 ± 34.1 percent, p < 0.001, respectively) since COVID-19. The overwhelming majority of respondents reported no changes in their opioid prescribing patterns since COVID-19, despite increased telehealth use. Only a minority copre-scribed naloxone as a risk mitigation strategy.

CONCLUSION

The rapid uptake of telehealth has not suppressed ambulatory providers' prescribing of opioids for SCD. Studies assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and telehealth on opioid prescribing practices in other painful chronic diseases are needed to ensure health equity for vulnerable pain patients.