Healthcare providers are prescribing less opioids due to the increasing awareness, and , the prevalence of opioid use and misuse, according to Medscape's "Opioid Abuse and Misuse: Providers and Patients Speak Up."
Here are 22 statistics:
• More than half (69 percent) pf providers reported prescribing fewer opioids due to the increased prevalence of opioid abuse, misuse and diversion, with 29 percent saying abuse and misuse has not impacted their prescribing practices. Only 2 percent said they now prescribe more opioids.
• Of physicians surveyed, 88 percent reported prescribing opioid analgesics to their patients at some point, slightly more than nurse practitioners (85 percent) and less than physician assistants (94).
• Slightly less than half (49 percent) of physicians reported prescribing opioids in at least 50 percent of their acute pain patients, up from 40 percent of NPs and 37 percent of PAs.
• Fourteen percent of physicians reported prescribing opioids for chronic non-cancer pain at least 50 percent of the time, down from 27 percent of NPs and 29 percent of PAs.
• Of patient respondents, 42 percent obtained prescriptions from a primary care provider or a specialist (41 percent). Others received their prescription after a hospital visit (27 percent) or from a pain management specialist (23 percent).
• Fifty-two percent of providers reported thinking patients abuse opioids, compared to 54 percent believing patients become addicted to the medications.
• Fifty-five percent of physicians reported thinking patients shared their opioid medications, with 36 percent thinking people other than those prescribed take the medication.
• Fifty-two percent of providers recommend cognitive-behavioral therapy for chronic pain as an opioid alterative.
• To limit opioid misuse, 35 percent of providers believe improved effectiveness of prescription-monitoring programs is the best strategy.
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