How, Why, and for Whom Do Emergency Medicine Providers Use Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs?

摘要: Objective The prescription opioid epidemic is currently responsible for the greatest number of unintentional deaths in United States. One potential strategy decreasing this implementation state-based Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs), which are designed providers to identify patients who “doctor shop” prescriptions. Emergency medicine physicians some most frequent PDMP users and prescribers, but little known about how they actually use PDMPs, patients, what reasons. Methods We conducted transcribed semistructured qualitative interviews with 61 at a national academic conference October 2012. Deidentified transcripts were entered into QSR NVivo 10.0, coded, analyzed themes using modified grounded theory. Results There variation pattern frequency access by emergency physicians. Providers rely on both structural characteristics PDMP, such as usability, also their own clinical gestalt impression when deciding PDMPs given patient encounter. information alter decisions guide prescribing patterns. Physicians describe alternative uses databases, improving ability facilitate discussions addiction provide education. Conclusion used multiple purposes, including identifying misuse enhancing provider-patient communication. Given practice, standards may help direct indication manner physician use. Steps minimize administrative barriers warranted. Finally, should be further studied determine appropriateness potentially expand role practice.