Opioids: Communication videos
This series of four educational videos aims to support effective conversations between health professionals and patients about the use of opioids for the management of chronic non-cancer pain. The videos focus on motivational interviewing techniques, providing examples of interactions between patients and health professionals, and demonstrating how best practice recommendations can be applied to individual patient circumstances.
The video series has been developed with funding from the Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australian Government Department of Health, and in collaboration with Painaustralia Consumer Advisory Group.
Video 1: How to have effective conversations with patients about opioids and chronic non-cancer pain
This video discusses conversations between health professionals and patients, and outlines 'motivational interviewing', which is the recommended evidence-based communication approach for these conversations, including its underlying ethos, four main principles and five key skills.
Additional resources
- Hall K, Gibbie T, Lubman DI. Motivational interviewing techniques – facilitating behaviour change in the general practice setting. Aust Fam Physician 2012;41:660-7.
- McNeil D, Addicks S, Randall C. Motivational interviewing and motivational interactions for health behavior change and maintenance. Oxford, UK: Oxford Handbooks Online, 2017.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Module 3: Communicating with patients – Applying CDC's Guideline for Prescribing Opioids. Atlanta, Georgia, USA: United States Department of Health and Human Services, 2016.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Module 10: Motivational Interviewing – Applying CDC's Guideline for Prescribing Opioids. Atlanta, Georgia, USA: United States Department of Health and Human Services, 2016.
Video 2: Effective conversations when initiating opioid treatment for a patient with chronic non-cancer pain
This video includes a demonstration of the use of motivational interviewing to facilitate shared decision-making with a patient when discussing an opioid trial.
Additional resources
- MedicineWise News: If not opioids, then what? – focuses on non-pharmacological treatment options for chronic non-cancer pain
- Managing pain and opioid medicines and 5 questions to ask about using opioids for osteoarthritis or back pain – designed to encourage patients to ask questions about their medicine
- Opioids information video – helps consumers make informed decisions in partnership with their doctors about whether to start taking an opioid medicine for chronic non-cancer pain
- Easy-to-read information about opioids and chronic pain
Video 3: Effective conversations about tapering opioids
This video includes a demonstration of the use of motivational interviewing when discussing opioid tapering with a patient on long-term opioid treatment originally prescribed by a different doctor.
Additional resources
- NPS MedicineWise resources
- Tapering algorithm – outlines the framework and principles for tapering opioids
- MedicineWise News: 5 steps to tapering opioids – focuses on safe tapering of opioids and provides commentary on the tapering algorithm
- Conversation starters – useful verbatims for health professionals to start the conversation about tapering with patients
- Patient action plan: Lowering your opioid dose – GP-mediated resource that aims to facilitate a discussion about the possible benefits of tapering and what’s involved in the process, and help doctors and patients agree a planned approach
- Faculty of Pain Medicine ANZACA: Opioids calculator
- TGA: Clinician information sheet on opioid analgesic tapering (summary version)
- Victoria Health: Opioid Risk Tool
- ACI Pain Management Network: Assessment tools and Quick steps through opioid management
Video 4: Effective conversations about psychology referral, opioids and chronic non-cancer pain
This video includes a demonstration of the use of motivational interviewing when discussing the relationship between pain and the brain and recommending a referral to a psychologist.
Additional resources to use with your patients
- NPS MedicineWise resources
- Opioids information video – helps consumers make informed decisions in partnership with their doctors about whether to start taking an opioid medicine for chronic non-cancer pain
- Opioid medicines and chronic non-cancer pain
- Chronic pain explained
- Pain: what is going on?
- Nerve pain explained
- TGA: Prescription opioids: Information for consumers, patients and carers
- Pain Management Network (ACI NSW) – Video on pain and the role of medications
- Centre for Clinical Interventions: Psychological self-management handouts
To access a copy of the video with the transcript, email [email protected]