An older adult with gastric cancer with bone metastases is being discharged from the hospital after beginning a regimen of opioid analgesics to control the metastatic pain. What should be included in the discharge teaching plan?

A. Benefits of grief counseling: While emotional and psychological support are important for patients with cancer, grief counseling is not the most immediate concern upon initiating opioid therapy. The priority is focus on managing medication-related side effects. B. The development of a plan to prevent constipation: Opioid analgesics commonly cause decreased gastrointestinal motility, leading to constipation. Establishing a prevention plan that includes increased fluid intake, dietary fiber, stool softeners, or mild laxatives helps maintain comfort and supports adherence to pain management therapy. C. Preventing pressure ulcers: Pressure ulcer prevention is essential for immobile patients but is not a specific priority linked to opioid initiation. Unless the patient has significant mobility impairment, teaching about opioid-related side effects takes precedence at discharge. D. Increasing calories in the diet: Nutritional support is important for cancer patients, but it is not directly related to the effects of opioid use. The immediate concern is addressing the predictable adverse effects of opioids, such as constipation, which can impact quality of life.