Reporter CME — test questions

1. Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for an interval of six to nine months.

   1. true
   2. false
    
   
   

2. According to the Institute of Medicine, chronic pain affects an estimated ________ American adults.

   1. 32 million
   2. 81 million
   3. 116 million
   4. 168 million
    
   
   

3. In the U.S., back pain is the fifth most common diagnosis for hospitalization and the third leading cause of surgery.

   1. true
   2. false
    
   
   

4. Treatment options for migraine headaches include:

   1. acetaminophen and NSAIDs
   2. beta blockers
   3. ergotamines
   4. tryptans
   5. a, c, and d
   6. all of the above
    
   
   

5. A cancer patient's length of survival and responsiveness to oncologic treatment is directly related to adequate pain control.

   1. true
   2. false
    
   
   

6. Under-treatment of pain can occur for the following reasons:

   1. judging severity of pain is difficult
   2. the ability of patients to tolerate pain is variable
   3. patients may be using pain complaints to support addictive behaviors
   4. all of the above
    
   
   

7. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, prescription drug abuse is the nation's fastest growing drug problem.

   1. true
   2. false
    
   
   

8. Physicians who prescribe or dispense controlled substances must register with the following entities:

   1. the Drug Enforcement Agency
   2. the Texas Department of Public Safety
   3. the Food and Drug Administration
   4. a and b
   5. all of the above
    
   
   

9. Schedule I drugs include certain narcotic, stimulant, and depressant drugs such as morphine, cocaine, oxycodone, fentanyl, and other opioids.

   1. true
   2. false
    
   
   

10. The TMB can discipline physicians for actions specific to controlled substances. These actions include:

    1. failure to keep accurate records of controlled substances
    2. writing false or fictitious prescriptions to a person whom the physician should have known was an abuser of narcotics
    3. prescribing in a manner that is non-therapeutic
    4. all of the above
     
    
    

11. While the DEA does not have the authority to educate physicians about how to make "sound medical decisions in treating pain," it does have the authority to investigate whether a prescription for a controlled substance was issued for a legitimate medical purpose.

    1. true
    2. false
     
    
    

12. A review of the 2006 DEA investigations for inappropriate prescribing found that, out of 700,000 physicians, only __________ physicians were the subject of a criminal investigation.

    1. 250
    2. 600
    3. 2,400
    4. 7,700
     
    
    

13. Physicians are required to report any theft or loss of a controlled substance to the following entities:

    1. the Food and Drug Administration
    2. the Drug Enforcement Agency
    3. the Texas Department of Public Safety
    4. a and b only
    5. b and c only
    6. all of the above
     
    
    

14. Physicians may inquire about a patient's prescription history through the use of the Texas Prescription Program Information Request form.

    1. true
    2. false
     
    
    

15. Physicians can use the following techniques to help reduce the incidence of prescription drug diversion and abuse.

    1. refuse to prescribe schedule II drugs
    2. refer every patient who complains of chronic pain to a pain management specialist
    3. conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the patient, to include obtaining a thorough medical history and completing a physical exam
    4. none of the above
     
    
    

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Date: 05-17-2012

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