Treatment Outcomes Among Individuals in a Musculoskeletal Pain Rehabilitation Program Related to the Prevalence and Trends in the Dispensing of Prescribed Medications

AbstractObjectives: Prescribed medication consumption for chronic, non-malignant pain may not be beneficial. This study investigated how self-reported treatment outcomes among individuals in a musculoskeletal pain rehabilitation program are related to the prevalence and trends in the dispensing of prescribed medications.Methods: Patients with musculoskeletal pain were recruited as they began a rehabilitation program. Each participant completed a self-administrated questionnaire on pain, health status and socioeconomic factors in the beginning and at the end of the rehabilitation period. Each individual’s baseline data from the rehabilitation sample was linked to the national Norwegian Prescription Database [2004–2010]. Dispensing prescribed medications in the groups of centrally acting analgesics [opioids], anxiolytics and hypnotics were studied.Results: A total of 1562 individuals participated, and there was no loss to follow-up. Controlled medications [Schedule 2] were prescribed in 36.4% [n = 569] of t...