Patterns of opioid use among Texas dental practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic

Arthur H. Jeske; Aimee Anderson; Kim-Anh Do; Jing Ning; Junsheng Ma; Eduardo Bruera

doi:10.5055/jom.0837

Authors

Arthur H. Jeske, DMD, PhD
Aimee Anderson, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2464-5343
Kim-Anh Do, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8710-7131
Jing Ning, PhD
Junsheng Ma, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1704-7019
Eduardo Bruera, MD https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8745-0412

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.0837

Keywords:

opioids, dental, prescribing, survey

Abstract

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to assess factors that influence opioid prescribing by dentists and the role of these factors in the practice of dental pain control.

Design: A 25-question survey instrument was distributed to the study population for anonymous responses, covering dentist and practice demographics and opioid prescribing characteristics.

Setting: Private solo and group practice settings, including general practitioners and dental specialists.

Participants: Potential participants included all active members of a large state dental professional association.

Main outcome measures: They were practitioner and practice demographic traits, types of opioids prescribed, and statistical correlations. Outcome variables included practice type, practitioner gender, practice location, practice model, and years in practice. Categorical covariates were summarized statistically by frequencies and percentages, and continuous covariates were summarized by means, medians, ranges, and standard deviations.

Results: Strongest correlations with opioid prescribing included general practitioner (vs specialist) and male gender. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic was confirmed as having exerted a significant impact on opioid prescribing among the survey respondents.

Conclusions: Further research is warranted to assess post-pandemic opioid prescribing patterns, and additional educational strategies regarding limitations of opioid prescriptions should be applied to general, rather than specialty, dental practitioners.

Author Biographies

Arthur H. Jeske, DMD, PhD

Associate Dean and Professor, University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, Houston, Texas

Aimee Anderson, PhD

Clinical Research Scientist, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

Kim-Anh Do, PhD

Professor, Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

Jing Ning, PhD

Professor, Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

Junsheng Ma, PhD

Associate Director, Department of Data Science, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Oncology, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts

Eduardo Bruera, MD

Professor and Chair, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

References

Texas Administrative Code: Title 22, Examining Boards, Part 5, State Board of Dental Examiners, Chapter 111, Standards for Prescribing Controlled Substances and Dangerous Drugs, Rule 111.1, Additional Continuing Education Required.

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