Opioid Prescribing Practices Among Surgical Providers: The Relationship with Patient-Level Factors: Rural Residency or Cancer Diagnosis

Abstract

Background Patients living in rural communities and patients with a cancer diagnosis are two areas potentially overlooked in opioid prescribing clinical decision making that may relate to the amount of overprescribed opioids in the postsurgical environment.Methods A 35-item questionnaire was administered to surgeons, residents/ fellows (trainees), and advanced practice clinicians (APCs). Descriptive statistics were generated.Results Surgeons, trainees, and APCs self-reported that they give the same amount of opioids to rural patients as other patients. APCs were more likely to agree that it is easy to e-prescribe (56%) than surgeons (41%) and trainees (35%), so rural patients do not need different consideration. Surgeons (50%) and trainees (50%) agreed compared to APCs (0%) that it is easier to give more opioids so a patient does not have get refills if needed for pain. Compared to APCs (5%), 21% of surgeons and 45% of trainees acknowledged giving more opioid narcotics to patients with cancer than patients without a cancer diagnosis.Conclusions While both groups of prescribing providers reported that they gave the same amount of opioids to rural patients, they differed in their knowledge about e-prescribing and what healthcare access disparities may exist for the rural patient. No differences were reported between provider groups for cancer patients. Responses indicate an opportunity to work with providers to identify potential solutions for improving opioid prescribing practices in rural and cancer patients.