Measures taken in primary healthcare to reduce inappropriate opioid use and the opioid prescribing behavior of general practitioners: a baseline measurement

Abstract

Objective: In the past two decades, opioid use has increased in the Netherlands. Inappropriate use of opioids can lead to dependency, addiction, and abuse. To reduce inappropriate opioid use, the Tool for Reducing Inappropriate Opioid use for Physicians, Pharmacists, and Patients (TRIO-3P) developed a tool. The aim of this research project was to examine the baseline situation of the measures taken by general practitioners and pharmacists prior to TRIO-3P-study participation to reduce inappropriate opioid use, the baseline situation of the prescribing behavior of general practitioners and whether there is a correlation between the taken measures and the prescribing behavior. Methods: We developed questionnaires in Castor EDC for general practitioners and pharmacists about the measures taken prior to study participation to reduce inappropriate opioid use and analyzed these questionnaires using SPSS. Prescription data of the included general practitioners were extracted, analyzed, and compared to the mean number of users of strong-acting opioids and the mean number of patients with long term opioid treatment by using independent samples T-tests through SPSS. Results: 37 general practitioners and 22 pharmacists were included. The questionnaires showed that a small proportion of the general practitioners and pharmacists took measures prior to study participation to reduce inappropriate opioid use. Prescription data vary widely between general practitioners. Oxycodone was the most prescribed strong-acting opioid. No significant correlations were seen between the measures taken prior to study participation and the prescription data. Conclusion: Few GPs and pharmacists took measures to reduce inappropriate opioid use prior to TRIO-3P-study participation. TRIO-3P intervention components may give handholds to general practitioners and pharmacists to reduce inappropriate opioid use.