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Electronic Defaults to Reduce Opioid Prescribing in Emergency Department and Primary Care Settings

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Acute Pain
Interventions
Other: Change in electronic health record default for new opioid analgesic prescriptions
Registration Number
NCT03003832
Lead Sponsor
Montefiore Medical Center
Brief Summary

The goal of this research is to investigate the impact of changing opioid analgesic prescribing defaults on the quantity of opioids prescribed for acute non-cancer pain in adult primary care and emergency department settings. We will change prescribing defaults for select short-acting opioid analgesics including immediate release oxycodone and hydrocodone as well as codeine and tramadol, including their co-formulations with acetaminophen. In a cluster-randomized trial of matched pairs of Montefiore Medical Center clinical sites, stratified by specialty and teaching status, we will evaluate the impact of this intervention on patient-level outcomes using 18 months of data (6 months pre-intervention and 12 months post-intervention).

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
15000
Inclusion Criteria
  • Primary care clinic (internal medicine, family medicine, or urgent care) or emergency department within Montefiore Medical Center

Patient Inclusion Criteria:

  • Received a new opioid analgesic prescription, defined as no opioid analgesic prescription in the preceding 6 months

Patient

Exclusion Criteria
  • Cancer diagnosis code within the past 1 year

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
InterventionChange in electronic health record default for new opioid analgesic prescriptionsThe intervention condition consists of a change to the electronic health record so that new opioid analgesic prescriptions automatically default to 10 pills (i.e., the "quantity dispensed" field is pre-populated). This value is modifiable by providers who can tailor the prescription based on clinical factors.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Initial prescription <= 10 pills (y/n)Through study completion (18 months)

Extracted from the electronic medical record

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Initial prescription number of pillsThrough study completion (18 months)

Extracted from the electronic medical record

Initial prescription morphine milligram equivalentsThrough study completion (18 months)

Extracted from the electronic medical record

Total morphine milligram equivalents prescribed, including re-ordersWithin 30 days after the initial prescription

Extracted from the electronic medical record

Opioid analgesic re-order (y/n)Within 30 days after the initial prescription

Extracted from the electronic medical record

HospitalizationsWithin 30 days after the initial prescription

Extracted from the electronic medical record

Outpatient visitsWithin 30 days after the initial prescription

Extracted from the electronic medical record

Total opioid analgesic pills prescribed, including re-ordersWithin 30 days after the initial prescription

Extracted from the electronic medical record

Emergency department visitsWithin 30 days after the initial prescription

Extracted from the electronic medical record

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