Perceptions among Alberta Healthcare Professionals of Prescription Drug Misuse Final Report
April 2015
Executive Summary
The Issue
Although prescription drugs such as opioids, stimulants, sedatives and tranquillizers are legal and prescribed for therapeutic purposes, there are a number of harms associated with their use. The addiction, withdrawal, injury, overdose and death associated with prescription drugs have been identified as a significant public health and safety concern across North America. For example, nearly one in every eight deaths were opioid-related among individuals aged 25-34 years in Ontario in 2010 (Gomes et al., 2014). Although healthcare professionals play a critical role in addressing this issue, few studies have examined their part in identifying and preventing prescription drug misuse1 (PDM) among patients; of those studies that have, most focused on opioids alone.
This study investigated the perceptions among Alberta healthcare professionals, including physicians and surgeons, registered nurses and nurse practitioners, pharmacists and dentists, of the misuse of prescription opioids, stimulants and sedatives and tranquillizers. A clearer understanding of healthcare professionals’ perceptions of PDM can help to inform the development of educational and prevention and intervention initiatives and to improve the capacity to address this public health and safety crisis.
The Study
Guided by a panel of researchers and clinical experts, this study investigated perceptions among 1,063 healthcare professionals of:
1. The extent and distribution of PDM among patients;
2. Clinical characteristics of PDM;
3. Risk factors for PDM;
4. Barriers to identifying PDM in patients;
5. Communication among healthcare professionals regarding prescriptions; and 6. Strategies for preventing and addressing PDM
As well as providing a greater understanding of PDM from the perspective of those closely involved, the present findings could help inform the development of a multidisciplinary screening tool that addresses specific classes of drugs.
Download: Perceptions among Alberta Healthcare Professionals of Prescription Drug Misuse Final Report
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