Factors associated with prescription drug monitoring program utilisation: a cross-sectional survey of community pharmacists

Abstract

Background Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP) are databases which collect prescribing and dispensing information for high-risk medicines, and are one approach to mitigate prescription opioid-related risks. Aim To examine correlates of PDMP use under voluntary and mandatory conditions, among a representative sample of community pharmacists in Victoria, Australia. Method An online anonymous survey was conducted and collected data in relation to pharmacist and pharmacy characteristics, comfort in performing certain tasks, PDMP training and the frequency of PDMP use under voluntary and mandatory conditions. Multivariate logistic regression models were performed to determine the effect of each covariate on voluntary and mandatory PDMP use. Results In total, 265 pharmacists participated (response rate 47%). Under voluntary conditions, a quarter of pharmacists (24.9%) used the PDMP all the time, while half (51.7%) used the PDMP all of the time, once mandated. Pharmacies that stocked naloxone (OR: 1.96; 95% CI 1.11–3.45) and pharmacists that had attended formal PDMP training (OR: 1.78; 95% CI 1.05–3.05), were significantly associated with regular PDMP use under voluntary conditions. Under mandatory conditions, increased odds of PDMP use were associated with pharmacies that stocked naloxone (OR: 1.88; 95% CI 1.06–3.34). Pharmacists working in regional and rural areas had significantly lower odds (OR: 0.35; 95% CI 0.20–0.63) of always using the PDMP, as did pharmacists with > 15 years’ experience (OR: 0.24; 95% CI 0.11–0.51) once use was mandated. Conclusion Given that PDMP utilisation was slower or less regular amongst pharmacists located in regional and rural areas, pharmacists with more years of experience and those not already supplying naloxone, targeted training aimed at these sub-populations may be beneficial. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11096-022-01523-3.

Stocking and supplying naloxone: Findings from a representative sample of community pharmacies in Victoria, Australia

“…Data were collected as part of a larger study examining the implementation of Victoria's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program [24,25]. A representative sample of Victorian community pharmacists was invited to anonymously participate in an online cross-sectional survey.…”

Health‐care practitioner use of prescription drug monitoring programs in clinical practice in Australia: A qualitative study

“…Zhang et al [25] reported that Western Australian pharmacists who were future PDMP users were comfortable with mandated use. Amongst a sample of Victorian pharmacists, Picco et al [12] reported that 24.9% used the PDMP all of the time under voluntary conditions, compared with 51.7% once mandated. Prathivadi et al [11] revealed that Victorian general practitioners reported higher use of the mandatory PDMP compared with practitioners in other states.…”

“…PDMPs are now widely adopted tools designed to facilitate safer clinical decisions and reduce patient harm, however, practitioner use may be suboptimal [3,6,[9][10][11][12][13]. Successful achievement of PDMP objectives relies on effective and optimal PDMP use.…”

“…It is commonly understood that practitioner PDMP uptake and use along with the identification of associated barriers plays an important role in whether these programs will achieve their objectives [8]. PDMPs may be underutilised due to a number of barriers [8,10,12,[16][17][18]. Barriers to use have been investigated in an attempt to address practitioner uptake and optimise PDMP use [19,20].…”