Abstract

Query of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) is recommended before prescribing opioids by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to inform clinical practice and aid diversion prevention. Many states mandate prescriber PDMP use; however, little is known about PDMP perception of utility and use among Obstetricians-Gynecologists (OB/GYN), who are the primary provider for most women during pregnancy.

This study examined OB/GYN perceptions and utilization of their state PDMP.

Survey items were developed by expert consensus. A voluntary anonymous survey was emailed to a random sample of 5000 OB/GYNs (adjusted participants n = 1470, minus unread/refusals). Responses were stratified by state policy environment, where response frequency distributions were compared for OB/GYNs practicing in states with mandatory vs voluntary PDMP query.

Adjusted response rate was 27% (n = 397). Most OB/GYNs (78%) were registered with their PDMP. The majority agreed that “…mandating physician use of the PDMP was a good idea” (51.4% mandatory state vs 58.3% voluntary state). Respondents in mandatory states reported that the primary purpose of the PDMP was “to allow the physician to verify medications that the patient is being prescribed” less frequently than those in voluntary states (38.3% vs 52.8%). Several report speaking with patients about controlled substance prescriptions after viewing PDMP reports (27.8% in mandatory vs 26.3% in voluntary states). In qualitative responses, reported frustration with PDMPs was evident.

OB/GYNs are diverse in their perceptions regarding the utility and purpose of PDMPs. Tailored education is needed regarding clinical utility of PDMPs for OB/GYN practice.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-8-2021

Notes/Citation Information

Published in Medicine, v. 100, issue 1, e24268.

© 2021 the Author(s)

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial License 4.0 (CCBY-NC), where it is permissible to download, share, remix, transform, and buildup the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be used commercially without permission from the journal.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000024268

Related Content

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available, but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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