The effects on patient retention after opioid weaning in an internal medicine residency clinic

J Opioid Manag. 2018 Mar-Apr;14(2):117-123. doi: 10.5055/jom.2018.0438.

Abstract

A retrospective, cross-sectional study was completed on 220 patients to determine the effects of implementation of an aggressive policy to curb opioid misuse/abuse in an internal medicine residency clinic. Our findings suggest that the development of a clear and consistent protocol for approaching patients on chronic controlled substances, as well as the initiation of regular didactic sessions addressing chronic pain and pain management, led to a dramatic reduction in the number or opioid prescriptions written by our resident providers without much reduction in patient volume.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analgesics, Opioid / adverse effects*
  • Chronic Pain / drug therapy*
  • Clinical Protocols
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internal Medicine*
  • Internship and Residency*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Ohio
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / prevention & control*
  • Outpatient Clinics, Hospital*
  • Pain Management
  • Prescription Drug Misuse / prevention & control*
  • Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs*
  • Program Evaluation
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Substance Abuse Detection
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid