A toolkit to implement opioid quality improvement efforts in primary care: Findings from a mixed-methods study

Ellen Childs; Holly Swan; Leigh Evans; Michael L. Parchman; Brooke Ike; Laura-Mae Baldwin; Olivia Bacon; Deborah Perfetto; Eileen Hogan; Sarah J. Shoemaker-Hunt

doi:10.5055/jom.0894

Authors

Ellen Childs, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6177-8412
Holly Swan, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8939-2108
Leigh Evans, PhD
Michael L. Parchman, MD, MPH https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7129-2889
Brooke Ike, MPH https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6421-1769
Laura-Mae Baldwin, MD, MPH https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2236-1216
Olivia Bacon, BA
Deborah Perfetto, PharmD
Eileen Hogan, MPA
Sarah J. Shoemaker-Hunt, PhD, PharmD https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3391-2041

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.0894

Keywords:

opioids, quality improvement, health systems, primary care

Abstract

Objective: The Six Building Blocks: A Team-Based Approach to Improving Opioid Management in Primary Care (6BBs) program provides a roadmap for improving the management of patients on opioid therapy for chronic pain. The goal of this project was to evaluate the How-to-Implement Toolkit (Toolkit) for clinics to independently implement the 6BBs without a practice facilitator.

Methods: Eight healthcare organizations with 62 clinics participated in the program. We conducted interviews and surveys with clinical staff. A mixed-methods synthesis was conducted, incorporating themes from qualitative data and descriptive analysis of survey data.

Results: We found that healthcare organizations appreciated the resources in the Toolkit but wanted the support of a practice facilitator. Organizations reported limited use of the Toolkit in its entirety but found individual tools useful.

Conclusions: The results point to the importance of support in implementing opioid quality improvement projects in primary care. The Toolkit and other 6BBs resources are available on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality website.

Author Biographies

Ellen Childs, PhD

Senior Research Scientist, Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Holly Swan, PhD

Senior Research & Evaluation Consultant, For Health Consulting, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts

Leigh Evans, PhD

Senior Associate, Abt Global, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Michael L. Parchman, MD, MPH

Primary Care Physician; Senior Investigator, Center for Accelerating Care Transformation, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington

Brooke Ike, MPH

Research Scientist and Practice Facilitator, University of Washington, Department of Family Medicine, Seattle, Washington

Laura-Mae Baldwin, MD, MPH

Professor, Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington; Senior Advisor, Community Engagement Program, Institute of Translational Health Sciences (ITHS); Outreach Core Co-Director, Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center; Co-investigator, Pacific Northwest Node, National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network, Seattle, Washington

Olivia Bacon, BA

Senior Analyst, Abt Global, LLC, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Deborah Perfetto, PharmD

Retired Health Science Administrator, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (CQuIPS), Rockville, Maryland

Eileen Hogan, MPA

Public Health Analyst and Project Officer, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (CQuIPS), Rockville, Maryland

Sarah J. Shoemaker-Hunt, PhD, PharmD

Science and Research Director, Principal Associate; Abt Global, LLC, Cambridge, Massachusetts

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