Knowledge and implementation of current opioid guidelines among healthcare providers in Manitoba

Diana C. Sanchez-Ramirez, PhD, MPH, PT; Christine Polimeni, MD

doi:10.5055/jom.2019.0483

Authors

Diana C. Sanchez-Ramirez, PhD, MPH, PT
Christine Polimeni, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2019.0483

Keywords:

Canada, opioid guidelines, education, healthcare providers

Abstract

Objective: To explore self-perceived knowledge and implementation of current opioid guidelines among healthcare providers, and to assess the effect of an opioid-related educational intervention.

Design: Pre-post.

Setting: Academic.

Participants: Sixty-nine participants completed the pre-intervention survey, 45 percent of them also completed a post-survey.

Intervention: A short presentation on current opioid guidelines incorporated in a larger accredited continuing professional development (CPD) event.

Outcomes: The 5-point Likert scale to express their level of agreement with seven statements was used to estimate their knowledge and implementation of current opioids guideline, along with their self-perceived abilities and level of comfort in prescribing opioids (Moore's conceptual framework).

Results: Fifty percent of the participants were familiar with current opioid prescribing protocols and 46 percent were implementing them, 62 percent stated that were able to identify drug seeking behaviors in patients, 82 percent knew patients’ risk factors and 78 percent evaluated them before prescribing opioids, 90 percent indicated that they prescribed non-opioid alternatives, and 35 percent expressed that they feel comfortable prescribing opioids. Self-reported levels of familiarity with the current opioid prescribing protocols (p < 0.001) and knowledge of patients’ risk factors for prescribing opioids (p = 0.012) increased after the intervention. Improvements in their ability to identify drug seeking behavior in patients (p = 0.033), and in their comfort prescribing opioids for chronic non-cancer patients (p = 0.015) were also reported.

Conclusions: Healthcare providers’ knowledge and implementation of current opioids guidelines need to be strengthened. A single presentation on the opioid crisis and guidelines incorporated within a larger CPD event showed significant gains in self-reported knowledge and skills among healthcare providers.

Author Biographies

Diana C. Sanchez-Ramirez, PhD, MPH, PT

Director of Research, Office of Continuing Competency and Assessment; Assistant Professor, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Christine Polimeni, MD

Vice-Dean, Office of Continuing Competency and Assessment, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

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