An Online CME Activity
Release Date: December 3, 2009
Expiration date: December 31, 2010
Credit Available
This activity offers the following types of credit:
- 1 Credit Category 1 AMA PRA™
- 1 Hour Category 1B, AOA
- 1 Hour Nursing Credit
Target Audience
This activity is designed for physicians, PAs, nurses and others who care for
patients in palliative care.
Statement of Need
Most healthcare professionals feel that their formal medical training did not prepare them to effectively manage pain and the associated opioid side effects. Patients receiving palliative care typically do not mention constipation or its effect on comfort, or don’t realize they are constipated nor do they associate constipation with opioid therapy. As a result, opioid-induced constipation, which is underappreciated, underrecognized and ineffectively managed, resulting in sub-optimal care.
Opioid induced side effects, including constipation, are an expected part of opioid pain management in palliative care. Many healthcare professionals accept constipation and therefore do not adequately communicate with patients and their caregivers the signs and symptoms of constipation or effectively treat constipation leading to unrecognized and unnecessary patient embarrassment and suffering.
Patients receiving palliative care should receive timely treatment for opioid side effects, including constipation, to minimize unnecessary patient suffering.
Educational Objectives
- Describe to patients and other members of the healthcare team why opioid-induced constipation (OIC) should be a concern in palliative care;
- Educate patients and other members of the healthcare team about the physiologic mechanisms leading to constipation as a side effect of opioid therapy and how OIC differs from other types of constipation; and
- Recommend and implement practical lifestyle and medical strategies to assess for and manage OIC in palliative care patients.
The purpose of this activity is to provide clinicians practicing palliative care the most current information related to opioid-induced constipation education and management. The goal is to enhance the practice of palliative care by improving clinician/patient communication about OIC and employ effective, evidence-based strategies for management.
Faculty Presenter
Katherine Galluzzi, DO, FACOFP dist
A.B.H.P.M. Boarded
Professor and Chairperson, Department of Geriatrics
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Katherine Galluzzi has nothing to disclose.
Planning & Review Committee
This activity was planned and designed by:
Catherine Eberle, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Section of Geriatrics & Gerontology
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Nothing to Disclose
Richard Roberts, MD, JD, FAAFP, FCLM
Professor
University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine
Dr. Roberts has disclosed that he has served on an advisory board for and received honoraria from Astellas
No conflict identified
Roy Martin, DMin
Assistant Professor, Clinical Ethics
University of North Texas Health Science Center
Nothing to Disclose
Susan Franks, PhD
Associate Professor
University of North Texas Health Science Center
Nothing to Disclose
Suresh Reddy, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine
Division of Cancer Medicine
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
Nothing to Disclose
Content Reviewers
Content reviewers did not develop content, but provided feedback as to accuracy of study interpretation, clarity of educational concepts and recommendations for content improvement.
Bruce Chamberlain, MD, FACP, FAAHPM
Palliative Care Consultations
Dr. Chamberlain has disclosed that he has served as a non-CME speaker for Wyeth.
Conflict resolved.
Katherine Galluzzi, DO, FACOP
Professor and Chairperson, Department of Geriatrics
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Nothing to Disclose
Dennis McCullough, MD
Community Geriatric Consultant
Associate Professor of Community and Family Medicine
Dartmouth Medical School
Nothing to Disclose
The University of North Texas Health Science Center, the Interstate Postgraduate Medical Association and the University of Nebraska Medical Center have nothing to disclose.
Physicians Accreditation Statements
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to award continuing medical education to physicians.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians.
Physician Credit Designation
The University of North Texas Health Science Center has requested that the AOA Council on Continuing Medical Education approve this program for one hours of AOA Category 1B CME credits. Approval is currently pending.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.
Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physician Assistants Credit Designation
The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts AMA Category 1 CME credit for the PRA from organizations accredited by ACCME. The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is accredited by ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians, and will provide physician assistants who successfully complete the activity with a Statement of Participation indicating that the activity was designated for 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.
Nurse Practitioners Credit Designation
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is accredited by ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians, and will provide nurse practitioners who successfully complete the activity with a Statement of Participation indicating that the activity was designated for 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.
NURSING ACCREDITATION & CREDIT:
The University of North Texas Health Science Center is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Texas Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
This activity provides one contact hours for the nurse.
Other healthcare professionals will receive a certificate for individual reporting.
Method of Instruction
To receive continuing education credit, participants must:
- Complete the pre-test
- Review the full content of the program.
- Successfully complete the post-test (70% or higher).
- Complete the activity evaluation
- Your statement of credit (certificate) will be available for immediate printing. Additional copies are available by calling 800-987-2263 or visiting http://www.hsc.unt.edu/education/pace/.
Fee
There is no charge for this activity.
Commercial Support
This activity is commercially supported by Wyeth.
Disclaimer
The methods, techniques of clinical practice and practice recommendations are evidence-based and are used by recognized medical authorities for consideration for licensed healthcare professionals to incorporate into practice. Variations of practice, taking into account the needs of the individual patient, available resources, limitations unique to each practice setting, and the clinicians own experience and judgment may be appropriate.
Hardware and Software Requirements
- PC or Mac computer
- A high-speed internet connection
- Speakers or headphones
- Video Screen Resolution - 1024 x 768 pixels recommended
- Flash browser plugin (most computers already have this - get it here)
- Adobe Acrobat Reader (for handouts)
- A Printer (for printing certificate)
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