Physicians’ Self-Reported Knowledge and Behaviors Related to Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain and Diagnosing Opioid Use Disorder, DocStyles, 2020

Abstract

IntroductionIn 2016, CDC released the Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain (2016 CDC Guideline) to improve opioid prescribing while minimizing associated risks. This analysis sought to understand guideline-concordant knowledge and self-reported practices among primary care physicians (PCPs). MethodsData from Spring DocStyles 2020, a cross-sectional, web-based survey of practicing U.S. physicians was analyzed in 2022 and 2023. Demographic, knowledge, and practice characteristics of PCPs overall (N=1,007) and among specific subsets 1) PCPs who provided care for patients with chronic pain (n=600), 2) PCPs that did not provide care for patients with chronic pain (n=337), and 3) PCPs who reported not obtaining or seeking a buprenorphine waiver (n=624) were examined. ResultsA majority of physicians (72.6%) were unable to select a series of options consistent with diagnostic criteria for opioid use disorder (OUD); of those physicians, almost half (47.9%) reported treating at least one patient with medications for OUD. A minority of physicians (17.5%) reported having a buprenorphine prescribing waiver. Among physicians who prescribed opioids for chronic pain (88.5%), 54.4% concurrently prescribed benzodiazepines. About one-third (33.5%) reported not taking patients with chronic pain. ConclusionsThere were critical practice gaps among PCPs related to 2016 CDC Guideline topics. Increasing knowledge of CDC's opioid prescribing recommendations can benefit physician practice, patient outcomes, and public health strategies in addressing the opioid overdose crisis and implementing safer and more effective pain care.