The impact of practice guidelines on opioid utilization for injured workers.
Am J Ind Med
; 60(12): 1023-1030, 2017 Dec.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28990210
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Opioid use is rising in the US and may cause special problems in workers compensation cases, including addiction and preventing a return to work after an injury.OBJECTIVE:
This study evaluates a physician-level intervention to curb opioid usage. An insurer identified patients with out-of-guideline opioid utilization and called the prescribing physician to discuss the patient's treatment protocol. RESEARCHDESIGN:
This study uses a differences-in-differences study design with a propensity-score-matched control group. Medical and pharmaceutical claims data from 2005 to 2011 were used for analyses.RESULTS:
Following the intervention, the use of opioids increased for the intervention group and there is little impact on medical spending.CONCLUSIONS:
Counseling physicians about patients with high opioid utilization may focus more attention on their care, but did not impact short-term outcomes. More robust interventions may be needed to manage opioid use. PERSPECTIVE While the increasing use of opioids is of growing concern around the world, curbing the utilization of these powerfully addictive narcotics has proved elusive. This study examines a prescribing guidelines intervention designed to reduce the prescription of opioids following an injury. The study finds that there was little change in the opioid utilization after the intervention, suggesting interventions along other parts of the prescribing pathway may be needed.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Pautas de la Práctica en Medicina
/
Guías de Práctica Clínica como Asunto
/
Adhesión a Directriz
/
Traumatismos Ocupacionales
/
Analgésicos Opioides
Tipo de estudio:
Guideline
/
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Am J Ind Med
Año:
2017
Tipo del documento:
Article