William Becker, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine (General Medicine)
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Locations
Research Summary
My research broadly pertains to improving quality of care of patients with chronic non-cancer pain in primary care. Specific areas of interest include:
- Observational studies to assess benefit and harm of pain treatments
- Development and testing of interventions to improve quality and safety of pain treatment
- Implementation research to improve uptake of high-quality, evidence-based pain treatment
Coauthors
Research Interests
Analgesics, Opioid; Internal Medicine; Chronic Pain
Selected Publications
- Group Visits for Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution in Primary Care: A Pilot Quality Improvement InitiativeSpelman JF, Peglow S, Schwartz AR, Burgo-Black L, McNamara K, Becker WC. Group Visits for Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution in Primary Care: A Pilot Quality Improvement Initiative Pain Medicine 2017, 18: 2325-2330. PMID: 29045696, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnx243.
- Multiple Sources of Prescription Payment and Risky Opioid Therapy Among VeteransBecker WC, Fenton BT, Brandt CA, Doyle EL, Francis J, Goulet JL, Moore BA, Torrise V, Kerns RD, Kreiner PW. Multiple Sources of Prescription Payment and Risky Opioid Therapy Among Veterans Medical Care 2017, 55: s33-s36. PMID: 28410338, DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000722.
- Abuse-Deterrent Opioid Formulations — Putting the Potential Benefits into PerspectiveBecker WC, Fiellin DA. Abuse-Deterrent Opioid Formulations — Putting the Potential Benefits into Perspective New England Journal Of Medicine 2017, 376: 2103-2105. PMID: 28564568, DOI: 10.1056/nejmp1701553.
- Evaluation of an Integrated, Multidisciplinary Program to Address Unsafe Use of Opioids Prescribed for PainBecker WC, Edmond SN, Cervone DJ, Manhapra A, Sellinger JJ, Moore BA, Edens EL. Evaluation of an Integrated, Multidisciplinary Program to Address Unsafe Use of Opioids Prescribed for Pain Pain Medicine 2017, 19: 1419-1424. PMID: 28371816, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnx041.
- Barriers and facilitators to use of non-pharmacological treatments in chronic painBecker WC, Dorflinger L, Edmond SN, Islam L, Heapy AA, Fraenkel L. Barriers and facilitators to use of non-pharmacological treatments in chronic pain BMC Primary Care 2017, 18: 41. PMID: 28320337, PMCID: PMC5359906, DOI: 10.1186/s12875-017-0608-2.
- Ultra–High-Dose Opioids With Low Efficacy and Significant Harm—Time to Make a Change: A Teachable MomentGuillod P, Edens EL, Becker WC. Ultra–High-Dose Opioids With Low Efficacy and Significant Harm—Time to Make a Change: A Teachable Moment JAMA Internal Medicine 2017, 177: 17-18. PMID: 27893881, DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.7344.
- Prescribing opioids in primary care: Safely starting, monitoring, and stoppingTobin DG, Andrews R, Becker WC. Prescribing opioids in primary care: Safely starting, monitoring, and stopping Cleveland Clinic Journal Of Medicine 2016, 83: 207-215. PMID: 26974992, DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.83a.15034.
- Initial development of patient-reported instrument assessing harm, efficacy, and misuse of long-term opioid therapyBecker WC, Fiellin DA, Black AC, Kostovich CT, Kerns RD, Fraenkel L. Initial development of patient-reported instrument assessing harm, efficacy, and misuse of long-term opioid therapy The Journal Of Rehabilitation Research And Development 2016, 53: 127-136. PMID: 27006339, PMCID: PMC4806533, DOI: 10.1682/jrrd.2014.11.0285.
- Trends in Any and High-Dose Opioid Analgesic Receipt Among Aging Patients With and Without HIVBecker WC, Gordon K, Jennifer Edelman E, Kerns RD, Crystal S, Dziura JD, Fiellin LE, Gordon AJ, Goulet JL, Justice AC, Fiellin DA. Trends in Any and High-Dose Opioid Analgesic Receipt Among Aging Patients With and Without HIV AIDS And Behavior 2015, 20: 679-686. PMID: 26384973, PMCID: PMC5006945, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-015-1197-5.
- Buprenorphine/Naloxone Dose and Pain Intensity Among Individuals Initiating Treatment for Opioid Use DisorderBecker WC, Ganoczy D, Fiellin DA, Bohnert AS. Buprenorphine/Naloxone Dose and Pain Intensity Among Individuals Initiating Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder Journal Of Substance Abuse Treatment 2014, 48: 128-131. PMID: 25312475, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2014.09.007.
- Federal plan for prescriber education on opioids misses opportunities.Becker WC, Fiellin DA. Federal plan for prescriber education on opioids misses opportunities. Annals Of Internal Medicine 2012, 157: 205-6. PMID: 22868838, DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-157-3-201208070-00448.
- Nonmedical Use of Opioid Analgesics Obtained Directly From Physicians: Prevalence and CorrelatesBecker WC, Tobin DG, Fiellin DA. Nonmedical Use of Opioid Analgesics Obtained Directly From Physicians: Prevalence and Correlates JAMA Internal Medicine 2011, 171: 1034-1036. PMID: 21670373, DOI: 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.217.
- Racial Differences in Primary Care Opioid Risk Reduction StrategiesBecker WC, Starrels JL, Heo M, Li X, Weiner MG, Turner BJ. Racial Differences in Primary Care Opioid Risk Reduction Strategies The Annals Of Family Medicine 2011, 9: 219-225. PMID: 21555749, PMCID: PMC3090430, DOI: 10.1370/afm.1242.
- The Safety of Opioid Analgesics in the Elderly: New Data Raise New Concerns: Comment on “The Comparative Safety of Opioids for Nonmalignant Pain in Older Adults”Becker WC, O'Connor PG. The Safety of Opioid Analgesics in the Elderly: New Data Raise New Concerns: Comment on “The Comparative Safety of Opioids for Nonmalignant Pain in Older Adults” JAMA Internal Medicine 2010, 170: 1986-1988. PMID: 21149755, DOI: 10.1001/archinternmed.2010.443.
- Systematic review: treatment agreements and urine drug testing to reduce opioid misuse in patients with chronic pain.Starrels JL, Becker WC, Alford DP, Kapoor A, Williams AR, Turner BJ. Systematic review: treatment agreements and urine drug testing to reduce opioid misuse in patients with chronic pain. Annals Of Internal Medicine 2010, 152: 712-20. PMID: 20513829, DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-152-11-201006010-00004.
- The Association Between Chronic Pain and Prescription Drug Abuse in VeteransBecker WC, Fiellin DA, Gallagher RM, Barth KS, Ross JT, Oslin DW. The Association Between Chronic Pain and Prescription Drug Abuse in Veterans Pain Medicine 2009, 10: 531-536. PMID: 19425211, DOI: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2009.00584.x.
- Non-medical use, abuse and dependence on prescription opioids among U.S. adults: Psychiatric, medical and substance use correlatesBecker WC, Sullivan LE, Tetrault JM, Desai RA, Fiellin DA. Non-medical use, abuse and dependence on prescription opioids among U.S. adults: Psychiatric, medical and substance use correlates Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2007, 94: 38-47. PMID: 18063321, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2007.09.018.
- Systematic review: opioid treatment for chronic back pain: prevalence, efficacy, and association with addiction.Martell BA, O'Connor PG, Kerns RD, Becker WC, Morales KH, Kosten TR, Fiellin DA. Systematic review: opioid treatment for chronic back pain: prevalence, efficacy, and association with addiction. Annals Of Internal Medicine 2007, 146: 116-27. PMID: 17227935, DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-146-2-200701160-00006.
Clinical Trials
Conditions | Study Title |
---|---|
Addictive Behaviors | Clinical Determinants of Unintended Prolonged Opioid Use |
Mental Health & Behavioral Research; Pain Control; COVID-19 Inpatient; COVID-19 Outpatient | Engaging Veterans Seeking Service-Connection Payments in Pain Treatment (PragmaticSBIRT) |