Opioid analgesics may be initiated following surgical and medical hospitalization or in ambulatory settings; rates of subsequent long-term opioid (LTO) use have not been directly compared. This retrospective cohort study of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) included all patients receiving a new outpatient opioid prescription from a VHA provider in fiscal year 2011. If a new outpatient prescription was filled within 2 days following hospital discharge, the initiation was considered a discharge prescription. LTO use was defined as an episode of continuous opioid supply lasting a minimum of 90 days and beginning within 30 days of the initial prescription. We performed bivariate and multivariate analyses to identify the factors associated with LTO use following surgical and medical discharges. Following incident prescription, 5.3% of discharged surgical patients, 15.2% of discharged medical patients, and 19.3% of outpatient opioid initiators received opioids long term. Medical and surgical patients differed; surgical patients were more likely to receive shorter prescription durations. Predictors of LTO use were similar in medical and surgical patients; the most robust predictor in both groups was the number of days' supply of the initial prescription (odds ratio [OR] = 1.24 and 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.37 for 8-14 days; OR = 1.56 and 95% CI, 1.39-1.76 for 15-29 days; and OR = 2.59 and 95% CI, 2.35-2.86 for >30 days) compared with the reference group receiving =7days. Rates of subsequent LTO use are higher among discharged medical patients than among surgical patients. Characteristics of opioid prescribing within the initial 30 days, including initial dose and days prescribed, were strongly associated with LTO use.
This study was not funded. The authors report no conflicts of interest and no relevant financial interests related to the products or services discussed in this article. Study concept and design were contributed by Hofmeyer, along with Look and Hager. Hager took the lead in data collection, along with the other authors. Data interpretation was performed by Look, along with the other authors. The manuscript was primarily written by Hofmeyer, assisted by Look and Hager, and revised by all of the authors.
Adherence to the prescribed medication regimen is critical for success after organ transplantation. Over one-third of kidney graft losses are associated with medication nonadherence, and the odds of graft failure increase 7-fold in nonadherent compared with adherent patients. 1 It is estimated that kidney transplant patients take on average 8 medications per day, which can equate to 15-20 tablets or capsules per day. Education and training on the use of immunosuppressant medications as part of a complex post-transplant medication regimen are of paramount importance in order to set recipients up for success. 2 Every transplant program must consider and develop their strategy for discharge medication procurement and patient education. Patient education is required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for all United States (US) transplant Abstract Adherence to immunosuppressant medications is a key determinant of success following organ transplantation. Medication procurement and education are precursory. In March 2018, Medicare announced a rule change interpreted to prohibit delivery of Part B-covered immunosuppressive drugs to hospitals. A subsequent Medicare announcement clarified that immunosuppressive drug delivery to hospitals is acceptable, effective April 2019. To promulgate the perceived importance of medication delivery to hospitals among key providers of transplant discharge education, a 25question descriptive survey was distributed between May and July 2018 to pharmacists affiliated with each active US kidney transplant program (n = 238). Survey goals were to describe discharge medication procurement practices, discharge medication teaching practices, and attitudes toward the value of medication education. A total of 155 responses were received from 115 different transplant centers. A majority (93%) of respondents require discharge medications to be onsite prior to hospital discharge. A majority (81%) of respondents use discharge medications during medication education. Acquisition of immunosuppressant medications and their deliveryto the inpatient environment prior to discharge for the purpose of medication education is a common practice, is viewed as important, and serves to enhance discharge education, ensure safe transitions of care, and encourage medication adherence.
Introduction: Medication nonadherence is a predominant contributor to graft loss, however little is known about currently utilized strategies by transplant centers to monitor or manage this issue.Objective: Utilizing standard surveying and analysis techniques, assess health care professionals' (HCPs) perceptions of the scope and scale of medication nonadherence and strategies used to manage this issue at US-based transplant centers.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.