A patient balancing medication bottles on a tightrope, symbolizing the challenges of cancer treatment and the importance of medication adherence.

Unlocking Pain Relief: How Consistent Medication Can Improve Cancer Care

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Reese Marlowe in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research reveals the critical link between consistent pain medication and better health outcomes for cancer patients. Discover how adhering to your prescription can reduce hospital visits and improve your quality of life."


For individuals battling cancer, the journey is often marked by numerous transitions in care, with hospitalizations and emergency room visits becoming all too frequent. However, with advancements in cancer survival rates, there's a growing need to identify the factors that contribute to unnecessary acute health care utilization among these patients.

Analgesics, especially opioids, remain the cornerstone of cancer pain management, offering relief to the majority of patients dealing with moderate to severe discomfort. While the use of opioids has increased, surprisingly little is known about the connection between consistent adherence to prescribed pain medication and its impact on health outcomes, particularly among cancer patients.

A new study sheds light on this critical relationship, revealing how patterns of analgesic adherence can predict health care utilization among outpatients managing cancer pain. By understanding these patterns, we can pave the way for interventions that improve medication adherence, reduce hospitalizations, and enhance the quality of life for those living with cancer.

The Crucial Role of Consistent Analgesic Adherence

A patient balancing medication bottles on a tightrope, symbolizing the challenges of cancer treatment and the importance of medication adherence.

The study, published in Patient Preference and Adherence, investigated the link between adherence to around-the-clock (ATC) analgesics and acute health care utilization, specifically hospitalizations, among cancer patients. Researchers aimed to identify patterns of adherence, combine them into risk factors, and determine how these factors, along with others, contribute to hospitalization and inconsistent analgesic adherence.

Data was collected from a three-month observational study involving patients diagnosed with solid tumors or multiple myeloma, all experiencing cancer-related pain and having at least one prescription for oral ATC analgesics. Medication adherence was tracked electronically using the Medication Event-Monitoring System (MEMS). Adaptive modeling methods were employed to analyze the data, identifying adherence patterns and risk factors.

  • Six distinct adherence types were identified, ranging from high consistency to significant inconsistency in taking prescribed medication.
  • Inconsistent adherence emerged as a strong predictor of hospitalization, outweighing other factors.
  • The strongest predictor was the interaction of strong opioids and inconsistent adherence, indicating a particularly high risk for patients using these medications inconsistently.
  • Patients with more risk factors had a significantly higher chance of hospitalization, with the odds increasing substantially for each additional risk factor.
The study concluded that inconsistent adherence to prescribed ATC analgesics, especially the combination of strong opioids and inconsistent adherence, is a significant risk factor for hospitalization among cancer outpatients experiencing pain. This highlights the importance of consistent medication use in managing cancer pain and preventing unnecessary hospitalizations.

Improving Adherence for Better Outcomes

This research underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve analgesic adherence among cancer patients. By identifying those at highest risk for inconsistent adherence, healthcare providers can implement strategies to promote consistent medication use, reduce hospitalizations, and improve overall quality of life. Further studies are needed to explore the most effective interventions for achieving these goals and ensuring that all patients receive the pain relief they deserve.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.2147/ppa.s93726, Alternate LINK

Title: Patterns Of Analgesic Adherence Predict Health Care Utilization Among Outpatients With Cancer Pain

Subject: Health Policy

Journal: Patient Preference and Adherence

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Authors: Salimah Meghani, George Knafl

Published: 2016-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

1

Why is consistent use of pain medication important for cancer patients?

Consistent use of ATC analgesics, particularly opioids, is crucial for managing cancer pain effectively. The research reveals that adhering to prescribed medication significantly reduces the likelihood of hospitalization for cancer patients. This emphasizes the importance of taking medications as directed to ensure that pain is managed and quality of life is improved.

2

What are the key findings about medication adherence and hospitalizations?

The study found that inconsistent adherence to ATC analgesics, especially when combined with strong opioids, strongly predicted hospitalizations among cancer patients. This means that if a patient doesn't take their medication regularly, they are more likely to need to go to the hospital. Other factors that contribute to hospitalization are also considered, with increased risk for those with more risk factors.

3

What are ATC analgesics, and why are they important?

The term "ATC analgesics" refers to around-the-clock pain medications, which are designed to be taken regularly to control pain. This is different from medications taken only when pain flares up. In the context provided, the use of ATC analgesics is vital because they are a cornerstone for cancer pain management and provide relief for patients with moderate to severe discomfort.

4

How did researchers measure medication adherence in this study?

The Medication Event-Monitoring System (MEMS) was used to electronically track medication adherence. This system helped researchers to monitor how consistently patients were taking their ATC analgesics, which was critical to the study's findings. This method allowed for an in-depth examination of patient behavior regarding medication, helping identify patterns and predict outcomes.

5

What were the different adherence types identified, and what did they indicate?

The study identified six distinct adherence types, showing varying degrees of medication consistency. These patterns were crucial in assessing patient risk. Inconsistent adherence was shown to be a key risk factor for hospitalization. Recognizing these patterns is important for healthcare providers to develop strategies to improve patient outcomes and support medication adherence, ultimately improving quality of life.

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