Development and Validation of the Achieving Effective & Safe Opioid Prescribing-Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (AESOP-APRN) Survey: A Pilot Study.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are essential partners in the management of pain, both in primary care and in pain specialty practices. One of the more controversial treatment practices surrounds the use of opioid analgesic medication for the relief of pain in persons with chronic pain. Although several guidelines have been developed, the extent and impact of APRN knowledge, attitudes, and values about pain management and opioid prescribing practices are not known. In addition, regulatory mandates may encumber APRN scope of pain management practice. AIMS: This manuscript describes the development and pilot testing of the Achieving Effective & Safe Opioid Prescribing-APRN (AESOP-APRN) Survey conceptualized to address these topics. DESIGN: Instrument development. PARTICIPANTS/SUBJECTS: Advanced practice registered nurses. METHODS: Phase I addressed development, content validity determination, and survey refinement. APRN-focused discussion groups, expert review, and analysis of content were conducted. In phase II, pilot testing was conducted to determine reliability. RESULTS: APRNs are aware of regulatory restrictions to practice and potential implications on patient outcomes. The Initial Content Validity Index suggested refinement of survey questions. After content revision, final ratings were acceptable. A sample of APRNs (N = 23) completed the survey. Cronbach's α range (.65-.91) suggests acceptable internal consistency for a new survey. CONCLUSIONS: Even at this initial phase, the newly developed AESOP-APRN Survey accurately represents the underlying thematic concepts of interest; however further psychometric analyses are required, and instrument refinement is possible. Additional study should include analysis of members from a variety of health care disciplines, as was the intention of the development of the Core Competencies for Pain Management from which many items were derived.