Interprofessional Oncology Providers’ Experiences and Knowledge of Opioid Use Disorders in Patients With Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To determine oncology providers’ experiences and knowledge of opioid use disorders (OUDs) in patients with cancer. SAMPLE & SETTING: The final sample of 773 participants included 42 physicians, 213 advanced practice providers (APPs), and 518 nurses at a large comprehensive cancer center. METHODS & VARIABLES: This study used a cross-sectional descriptive survey to describe providers’ experiences and knowledge of OUDs. RESULTS: Nurses and APPs reported personal experiences with addiction and encountering issues with OUDs in patients more often compared to physicians. Knowledge deficits were identified regarding addiction, including evidence-based treatment for OUDs. Overall, OUDs are a topic of concern that the majority of oncology providers are interested in learning more about. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: The opioid epidemic presents an opportunity to improve the knowledge of interprofessional oncology providers addressing OUDs. Nurses and APPs are ideally positioned for the prevention and early recognition of patients with an OUD and cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]