Multimodal local opioid prescribing intervention outcomes in chronic noncancer pain management

Affiliations

Department of Family Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center, Aurora UW Medical Group and Center for Urban Population Health, Aurora Sinai Medical Center

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Opioid misuse in the United States has made it challenging for physicians to treat chronic noncancer pain (CNCP). We implemented an educational program aimed at promoting safe opioid prescribing practices in hopes of increasing the level of appropriateness associated with prescribing opioids for CNCP.

METHODS: We conducted a quality-improvement study with a retrospective chart review of adult patients who were prescribed opioids for CNCP for at least 90 consecutive days at 2 academic primary care clinics. Patients were reviewed at baseline (July 2014-May 2015) and after initial interventions (January 2016-June 2016; ie, following multimodal educational activities on appropriate opioid prescription implemented from June 2015-December 2015). An opioid appropriateness score was calculated based on documentation of 9 items. Categorical variables were analyzed with Fisher exact tests and continuous variables by 2-sample

RESULTS: A total of 177 and 96 patients were evaluated at baseline and postintervention, respectively. Patient demographic characteristics were not statistically different. Overall, postintervention level of appropriateness was significantly different from preintervention (

CONCLUSIONS: Clinician education on best practices while treating CNCP is associated with an increase in the level of opioid use appropriateness.

Document Type

Article

PubMed ID

31300576

Teammate Access

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