Opioid Knowledge and Prescribing Habits at a Large Tertiary Care Academic Center

Background: Opioids are commonly prescribed medications for pain management with high risks associated with chronic use. The inherent risk associated with opioids is worsened by variable prescribing practices used by prescribers. In the midst of the “opioid epidemic,” perceptions of opioid prescription among healthcare practitioners have not been widely investigated. Objective: This study aimed to explore the opinions, experiences, and habits of prescribers as well as other healthcare personnel involved in the administration of opioids at an academic medical center. Methods: Questions were shared through an online survey format, answerable in Likert scale scores from 1 to 5, and categorized into three domains; prescribing habits/management, education, and risk stratification. Results: A total of 638 survey responses were collected comprising 130 physicians (21%), 44 residents and fellows (6.9%), 53 physician assistants and nurse practitioners (8.31%), 18 pharmacists (2.82%), 85 medical students (13.32%), and 308 nurses (48.28%). Collected responses revealed a weak consensus on prescribing practices and a lack of evidence-based opioid management such as low utilization of multidisciplinary clinics and unfamiliarity with the WHO analgesic ladder across all specialties. The survey also indicated a lack of education regarding the prescribing of opioids across all specialties although pharmacists reported obtaining the most. Lastly, the use of risk stratification tools such as prescription drug monitoring programs and urine drug testing were underutilized amongst practitioners. Conclusion: Strengthening practitioners’ opioid management abilities with evidence-based interventions for each aforementioned domain may aid in the fight against the opioid epidemic.