BACKGROUND:
Controlled
Prescription Drug (CPD) abuse has reached epidemic proportions in the United
Sates. Most physicians attending a three-day continuing medical education (CME)
professional development program (PDP) lack training in identifying risk and in
managing patients who misuse CPDs. To address this issue, the authors conducted
an evaluation of a professional development program (PDP) that trains
physicians on proper prescribing, identifying substance abuse, Screening, Brief
Interventions and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), and Motivational Interviewing
(MI).
METHODS:
The
authors conducted a program evaluation to assess the efficacy and impact of the
course on physicians' knowledge and prescribing behaviors.
RESULTS:
Participants
(N=174) were typically middle aged (average age of 53 years), male (89%),
physicians (82%) and other healthcare providers (18%) practicing in primary
care solo practices.
Course evaluations were completed by N=155 (89%)
participants who rated the course and presenters highly (mean 4.8/5 for each).
Physicians' knowledge scores on pre/post assessments increased significantly;
pre-test (M= 58.7, SD = 13.12) and post-test (M = 78.28, SD = 9.83), (t (173) =
20.06, p ≤ .0001, 95% CI [-21.51, -17.65]).
Almost half of the participants
N=83/174 (48%) completed the follow-up survey and 93% agreed/strongly agreed
(A/SA) they made professional practice changes. Of those practicing with
prescribing privileges (N=57), the following agreed/strongly agreed to the
following: implemented changes to align practices with current guidelines
(89%), used CPD more appropriately (87%) and implemented office policies on
prescribing (81%), identified and referred more substance abuse patients to
treatment (80%), shared new information/experience from course with other
health professionals (93%) and felt the course positively impacted their
behaviors personally and professionally (90% and 96% respectively).
CONCLUSIONS:
This
is the first study evaluating a PDP of this type. Results demonstrated
participant satisfaction and improvement in prescribers' knowledge and
self-reported prescribing behaviors. However, further study is needed to assess
actual clinical practice changes, direct impact on patient outcomes and rates
of recidivism.
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- 1 Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , Nashville , TN , USA.
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