Opioid prescribing in general practice: an Australian cross-sectional survey.
Benzodiazepine
Chronic non-cancer pain
General practice
General practitioner
Opioid prescribing
Prescription opioid
Journal
BMC primary care
ISSN: 2731-4553
Titre abrégé: BMC Prim Care
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9918300889006676
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
08 07 2022
08 07 2022
Historique:
received:
26
02
2022
accepted:
20
06
2022
entrez:
8
7
2022
pubmed:
9
7
2022
medline:
14
7
2022
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Prescribed opioid doses > 100 mg oral morphine equivalent (OME) and/or co-prescribing of sedating psychoactive medications increase the risk of unintentional fatal overdose. We describe general practice encounters where opioids are prescribed and examine high-risk opioid prescribing. The 2006-2016 BEACH study data, a rolling national cross-sectional survey of randomly selected GPs, was analysed. Opioid prescribing increased 2006-2007 to 2015-2016, however, this plateaued across the latter half-decade. From 2012-2016 3,897 GPs recorded 389,700 encounters and at least one opioid was prescribed at 5.2%. Opioid encounters more likely involved males, those 45-64 years, concession card holders and the socioeconomically disadvantaged. GPs more likely to prescribe opioids were 55 years or older, male, Australian graduates, and in regional and remote areas. The most common problems managed with opioids involved chronic non-cancer pain. One-in-ten opioid prescribing episodes involved high-risk doses and 11% involved co-prescription of sedating psychoactive medications. Over one-third of GPs provided other (non-pharmacological) interventions at encounters with opioid prescriptions. Only 5% of GP encounters involved an opioid prescription. Of concern, were: prescribing for chronic non-cancer pain, potentially high-risk opioid encounters where > 100 OME daily dose was prescribed, and/or there was co-prescription of sedating psychoactive medication. However, approximately one-in-three opioid prescribing encounters involved non-pharmacological interventions.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Prescribed opioid doses > 100 mg oral morphine equivalent (OME) and/or co-prescribing of sedating psychoactive medications increase the risk of unintentional fatal overdose. We describe general practice encounters where opioids are prescribed and examine high-risk opioid prescribing.
METHODS
The 2006-2016 BEACH study data, a rolling national cross-sectional survey of randomly selected GPs, was analysed.
RESULTS
Opioid prescribing increased 2006-2007 to 2015-2016, however, this plateaued across the latter half-decade. From 2012-2016 3,897 GPs recorded 389,700 encounters and at least one opioid was prescribed at 5.2%. Opioid encounters more likely involved males, those 45-64 years, concession card holders and the socioeconomically disadvantaged. GPs more likely to prescribe opioids were 55 years or older, male, Australian graduates, and in regional and remote areas. The most common problems managed with opioids involved chronic non-cancer pain. One-in-ten opioid prescribing episodes involved high-risk doses and 11% involved co-prescription of sedating psychoactive medications. Over one-third of GPs provided other (non-pharmacological) interventions at encounters with opioid prescriptions.
CONCLUSIONS
Only 5% of GP encounters involved an opioid prescription. Of concern, were: prescribing for chronic non-cancer pain, potentially high-risk opioid encounters where > 100 OME daily dose was prescribed, and/or there was co-prescription of sedating psychoactive medication. However, approximately one-in-three opioid prescribing encounters involved non-pharmacological interventions.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35804306
doi: 10.1186/s12875-022-01783-y
pii: 10.1186/s12875-022-01783-y
pmc: PMC9264661
doi:
Substances chimiques
Analgesics, Opioid
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
171Informations de copyright
© 2022. The Author(s).
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