Provider confidence in opioid prescribing and chronic pain management: results of the Opioid Therapy Provider Survey

Figures & data

Table 1 Participant demographics

Characteristics	Total number of participants, n (%)
Age (years)
25–35	7 (10.1)
36–44	19 (27.5)
45–54	10 (14.5)
55–64	21 (30.4)
≥65	9 (13.0)
Sex
Female	38 (55.1)
Male	27 (39.1)
Years in practice
0–5	8 (11.6)
6–10	7 (10.1)
11–15	9 (13.0)
16–20	11 (15.9)
21–25	7 (10.1)
26–30	10 (14.5)
≥31	15 (21.7)
Race/ethnicity
African American/Black	0 (0)
Hispanic/Latino	2 (2.9)
Asian	2 (2.9)
Caucasian/White	64 (92.8)
Number of patients seen weekly
0–19	5 (7.2)
20–39	6 (8.7)
40–59	18 (26.1)
60–79	15 (21.7)
80–99	15 (21.7)
≥100	8 (11.6)
Practice location
Urban	12 (17.4)
Suburban	10 (14.5)
Small city	27 (39.1)
Rural	18 (26.1)
Primary work facility
Private practice	29 (42.0)
Academic center	13 (18.8)
Community health center	9 (13.0)
Government facility	0 (0)
Long-term care facility	2 (2.9)
Locum tenens	3 (4.3)
Other	10 (14.5)
Previous additional training in pain management
Yes, 0–8 hours	9 (13.0)
Yes, >8 hours	31 (44.9)
No	27 (39.1)
State requirement for opioid-related continuing education
Yes	24 (34.8)
Primary care provider
Yes	39 (56.5)
No	28 (40.6)
Typical number of hours worked/week
<20	0 (0)
20–39	9 (13.0)
40–49	25 (36.2)
50–59	21 (30.4)
≥60	12 (17.4)
Provider type
Advanced practice nurse	18 (26.1)
Physician assistant	8 (11.6)
Physician	39 (56.5)
Registered nurse	1 (1.4)
Other	2 (2.9)

Table 2 Responses to Opioid Therapy Provider Survey questionsa

Opioid Therapy Provider Survey questiona	Strongly agree	Agree	Neutral	Disagree	Strongly disagree	No answer
Treating pain patients is a problem in my practice	9 (13)	33 (47.8)	14 (20.3)	7 (10.1)	2 (2.9)	4 (5.8)
I am willing to prescribe opioids with support from pain clinic	11 (15.9)	38 (55.1)	15 (21.7)	2 (2.9)	0 (0)	3 (4.3)
I fear my patients will become addicted to opioids	4 (5.8)	34 (49.3)	18 (26.1)	11 (15.9)	0 (0)	2 (2.9)
I am dissatisfied with communication with pain specialists	10 (14.5)	23 (33.3)	20 (29.0)	10 (14.5)	5 (7.2)	1 (1.4)
I follow a recommended opioid therapy protocol	8 (11.6)	23 (33.3)	19 (27.5)	11 (15.9)	4 (5.8)	4 (5.8)
I would likely prescribe opioids when other treatments are ineffective	12 (17.4)	43 (62.3)	8 (11.6)	4 (5.8)	0 (0)	2 (2.9)
I can identify patients at risk for misuse of pain medication	1 (1.4)	36 (52.2)	16 (23.2)	13 (18.8)	0 (0)	3 (4.3)
I am confident of my ability to manage patients with chronic pain	3 (4.3)	24 (34.8)	18 (26.1)	17 (24.6)	5 (7.2)	2 (2.9)
I am satisfied with the transition notes from the pain center	3 (4.3)	8 (11.6)	26 (37.7)	25 (36.2)	6 (8.7)	1 (1.4)
The consistent approach of my practice has helped me feel comfortable in prescribing opioids	6 (8.7)	36 (52.2)	17 (24.6)	7 (10.1)	3 (4.3)	0 (0.0)

Notes: Questions are truncated from original version in this report.

a Values in parentheses are reported as n (%). Percentages may not equal 100 due to rounding.

Table 3 Correlation between responses to survey questions and provider confidence

Survey response	Spearman’s coefficient	P-value
Treating pain patients is a problem in my practice	−0.349	0.005
I am willing to prescribe opioids with support from a pain clinic	−0.067	0.594
I fear my patients will become addicted to opioids	−0.231	0.064
I am dissatisfied with communication with pain specialists	−0.067	0.594
I follow a recommended opioid therapy protocol	0.398	0.001
I would likely prescribe opioids when other treatments are ineffective	0.146	0.245
I can identify patients at risk for misuse of pain medication	0.339	0.006
I am satisfied with transition notes from pain clinics	0.206	0.097
The consistent approach of my practice has helped me feel comfortable in prescribing opioids	0.445	<0.0001

Table 4 Correlation between provider demographics and provider confidence

Demographics	Spearman’s coefficient	P-value
Age	−0.030	0.813
Sex	0.066	0.609
Years in practice	−0.163	0.194
Race	−0.030	0.813
Average number of patients	0.162	0.197
Practice location	0.044	0.726
Type of practice	−0.156	0.219
Additional training in pain management	0.201	0.108
Required opioid-related continuing education	0.005	0.966
Primary care provider	0.010	0.935
Average hours worked	−0.034	0.791
Type of provider	−0.076	0.543