Dataset Information

Opioid prescription patterns among radiation oncologists in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Radiation oncologists (ROs) play an important role in managing cancer pain; however, their opioid prescribing patterns remain poorly described.

Methods

The 2016 Medicare Physician Compare National Downloadable and the 2016 Medicare Part D Prescriber Data files were cross-linked to identify RO-written opioid prescriptions.

Results

Of 4,627 identified ROs, 1,360 (29.3%) wrote >10 opioid prescriptions. The average number of opioid prescriptions written was significantly (P ? .05) associated with the following RO characteristics: sex [13.1 ± 36.5 male vs 7.5 ± 16.9 female]; years since medical school graduation [4.5 ± 11.5 1-10 years vs 12.6 ± 26.0 11-24 years vs 13.3 ± 40.9 ?25 years]; practice size [15.5 ± 44.6 size ?10 vs 13.3 ± 25.9 size 11-49 vs 8.5 ± 12.7 size 50-99 vs 8.8 ± 26.9 size ?100]; Medicare Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) participation [12.6 ± 31.8 yes vs 7.0 ± 35.4 no]; and practice location [17.4 ± 47.0 South vs 10.6 ± 29.4 Midwest vs 8.1 ± 13.9 West vs 6.9 ± 15.2 Northeast]. On multivariable regression modeling, male sex (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.22-1.35, P < .001), ?25 years since graduation (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.64-0.70, 1-10 years vs ?25 years; RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.96 - 1.04, 11-24 years vs ?25 years; P < .001), practice size <10 members (RR 1.51, CI 1.44-1.59, ?10 vs ?100 members, RR 1.27, CI 1.20-1.34, 10-49 vs ?100 members, RR 0.86, CI 0.80-0.92, 50-99 vs ?100 members, P < .001), PQRS participation (RR 1.12, CI 1.04-1.19, P < .002), and Southern location (RR 0.67, CI 0.64-0.70, Midwest vs South; RR 0.39, CI 0.37-0.41, Northeast vs South; RR 0.43, CI 0.41-0.46, West vs South; P < .001) were predictive of higher opioid prescription rates.

Conclusions

Factors associated with increased number of RO-written opioid prescriptions were male sex, ?25 years since graduation, group practice <10, PQRS participation, and Southern location. Additional research is required to establish optimal opioid prescribing practices for ROs.

SUBMITTER: Huang TQ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7221425 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Opioid prescription patterns among radiation oncologists in the United States.

Huang Tina Q TQ Chang Eric M EM Grogan Tristan R TR Martin Emily J EJ Raldow Ann C AC

Cancer medicine 20200313 10

<h4>Background</h4>Radiation oncologists (ROs) play an important role in managing cancer pain; however, their opioid prescribing patterns remain poorly described.<h4>Methods</h4>The 2016 Medicare Physician Compare National Downloadable and the 2016 Medicare Part D Prescriber Data files were cross-linked to identify RO-written opioid prescriptions.<h4>Results</h4>Of 4,627 identified ROs, 1,360 (29.3%) wrote >10 opioid prescriptions. The average number of opioid prescriptions written was significa ...[more]

PMID: 32167661

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Project description:ImportancePrescription opioids are frequently prescribed to treat cancer-related pain. However, limited information exists regarding rates of prescription opioid use and misuse in populations with cancer.ObjectivesTo estimate the prevalence and likelihood of prescription opioid use and misuse in adult cancer survivors compared with respondents without cancer and to identify characteristics associated with prescription opioid use and misuse in adult cancer survivors.Design, setting, and participantsThis cross-sectional study is a retrospective, population-based study using data from 169 162 respondents to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from January 2015 to December 2018. Survey data sets were queried for all respondents aged 18 years or older. Those with a reported history of cancer were termed cancer survivors and further divided into more recent (had cancer within 12 months of survey) and less recent (had cancer more than 12 months prior to survey) cohorts. Respondents with nonmelanoma skin cancer were excluded.Main outcomes and measuresPrescription opioid use and misuse within the past 12 months.ResultsAmong 169 162 respondents, 5139 (5.2%) were cancer survivors, with 1243 (1.2%) and 3896 (4.0%) reporting having more recent and less recent cancer histories, respectively. Higher rates of prescription opioid use were observed among more recent cancer survivors (54.3%; 95% CI, 50.2%-58.4%; odds ratio [OR], 1.86; 95% CI, 1.57-2.20; P < .001) and less recent cancer survivors (39.2%; 95% CI, 37.3%-41.2%; OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.08-1.28; P < .001) compared with respondents without cancer (30.5%, reference group). Rates of prescription opioid misuse were similar among more recent (3.5%; 95% CI, 2.4%-5.2%; OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.82-1.96; P = .36) and less recent (3.0%; 95% CI, 2.4%-3.6%; OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.83-1.28; P = .76) survivors compared with respondents without cancer (4.3%, reference group). Younger age (aged 18-34 years vs ≥65 years: OR, 7.06; 95% CI, 3.03-16.41; P < .001), alcohol use disorder (OR, 3.22; 95% CI, 1.45-7.14; P = .005), and nonopioid drug use disorder (OR, 14.76; 95% CI, 7.40-29.44; P < .001) were associated with prescription opioid misuse among cancer survivors.Conclusions and relevanceIn this study, prescription opioid use was higher among more and less recent cancer survivors compared with the population without a history of cancer. Rates of prescription opioid misuse were low and similar among all 3 cohorts. These findings suggest that higher prescription opioid use among cancer survivors may not correspond to increased short-term or long-term misuse.

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Dataset Information

Opioid prescription patterns among radiation oncologists in the United States.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Opioid prescription patterns among radiation oncologists in the United States.

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