Association between Prescribers’ Perceptions of the Utilization of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder and Opioid Dependence Treatability
Background: Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) has been proven to be effective, yet the perceptions or beliefs of prescribers of MOUD may have a substantial impact on their prescribing and dispensing of MOUD and their patients’ accessibility and utilization of MOUD services. We examined the a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/9/1733 |
| _version_ | 1797487773136977920 |
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| author | David Adzrago Angela Di Paola Jialing Zhu Alejandro Betancur J. Michael Wilkerson |
| author_facet | David Adzrago Angela Di Paola Jialing Zhu Alejandro Betancur J. Michael Wilkerson |
| author_sort | David Adzrago |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) has been proven to be effective, yet the perceptions or beliefs of prescribers of MOUD may have a substantial impact on their prescribing and dispensing of MOUD and their patients’ accessibility and utilization of MOUD services. We examined the associations of the perceptions of medical and pharmacy professionals regarding MOUD with sociodemographic characteristics, personal experiences with substance use disorders, and perceptions of opioid treatment. Method: Data were collected via telephone or online survey from March to August 2021, in Texas, to assess medical and pharmacy professionals’ perceptions of MOUD. Our sample included 542 participants who completed the survey. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess perceptions of MOUD, its use, and their correlates. Results: The participants had a mean age of 35 years (SD = 7.13) and had worked, on average, 6.90 years (SD = 5.37) in their current positions. The majority of the participants were males (50.93%) and medical professionals (82.01%). More than one third of the participants believed MOUD did not lead to abstinence or recovery (36.16%). Those who had personal experiences with a substance use disorder were more likely to believe that MOUD could be a replacement drug for previously misused substance(s) (RRR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.19, 3.59) and that MOUD did not lead to abstinence or recovery (RRR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.40, 3.91). However, the risk ratio values were lower for those who believed that a stigma against MOUD was a barrier for patients initiating and adhering to MOUD (MOUD is a replacement drug for previously misused substances (initiation RRR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.19, 0.93 and adhering RRR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.13, 0.71) or MOUD does not lead to abstinence or recovery (initiation RRR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.13, 0.54 and adhering RRR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.17, 0.78)). The various perceptions of the utilization of MOUD were not statistically different between medical and pharmacy professionals. Conclusion: Perceptions, experience with substance use disorder, and stigma against the utilization of MOUD influenced negative perceptions about MOUD. An innovative strategy is needed to improve medical and pharmacy professionals’ perceptions of MOUD, while efforts are being made to promote the use of MOUD for patients with opioid use disorders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:53:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5780efc85d8a423896c6231f7f761cd4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:53:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-5780efc85d8a423896c6231f7f761cd42023-11-23T16:29:57ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322022-09-01109173310.3390/healthcare10091733Association between Prescribers’ Perceptions of the Utilization of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder and Opioid Dependence TreatabilityDavid Adzrago0Angela Di Paola1Jialing Zhu2Alejandro Betancur3J. Michael Wilkerson4Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, CDC Prevention Research Center, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USAAIDS Program, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USACenter for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, CDC Prevention Research Center, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USACenter for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, CDC Prevention Research Center, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USACenter for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, CDC Prevention Research Center, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USABackground: Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) has been proven to be effective, yet the perceptions or beliefs of prescribers of MOUD may have a substantial impact on their prescribing and dispensing of MOUD and their patients’ accessibility and utilization of MOUD services. We examined the associations of the perceptions of medical and pharmacy professionals regarding MOUD with sociodemographic characteristics, personal experiences with substance use disorders, and perceptions of opioid treatment. Method: Data were collected via telephone or online survey from March to August 2021, in Texas, to assess medical and pharmacy professionals’ perceptions of MOUD. Our sample included 542 participants who completed the survey. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess perceptions of MOUD, its use, and their correlates. Results: The participants had a mean age of 35 years (SD = 7.13) and had worked, on average, 6.90 years (SD = 5.37) in their current positions. The majority of the participants were males (50.93%) and medical professionals (82.01%). More than one third of the participants believed MOUD did not lead to abstinence or recovery (36.16%). Those who had personal experiences with a substance use disorder were more likely to believe that MOUD could be a replacement drug for previously misused substance(s) (RRR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.19, 3.59) and that MOUD did not lead to abstinence or recovery (RRR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.40, 3.91). However, the risk ratio values were lower for those who believed that a stigma against MOUD was a barrier for patients initiating and adhering to MOUD (MOUD is a replacement drug for previously misused substances (initiation RRR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.19, 0.93 and adhering RRR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.13, 0.71) or MOUD does not lead to abstinence or recovery (initiation RRR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.13, 0.54 and adhering RRR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.17, 0.78)). The various perceptions of the utilization of MOUD were not statistically different between medical and pharmacy professionals. Conclusion: Perceptions, experience with substance use disorder, and stigma against the utilization of MOUD influenced negative perceptions about MOUD. An innovative strategy is needed to improve medical and pharmacy professionals’ perceptions of MOUD, while efforts are being made to promote the use of MOUD for patients with opioid use disorders.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/9/1733medication for opioid use disorderSUD treatmentprescribers’ perceptions of treatment |
| spellingShingle | David Adzrago Angela Di Paola Jialing Zhu Alejandro Betancur J. Michael Wilkerson Association between Prescribers’ Perceptions of the Utilization of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder and Opioid Dependence Treatability Healthcare medication for opioid use disorder SUD treatment prescribers’ perceptions of treatment |
| title | Association between Prescribers’ Perceptions of the Utilization of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder and Opioid Dependence Treatability |
| title_full | Association between Prescribers’ Perceptions of the Utilization of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder and Opioid Dependence Treatability |
| title_fullStr | Association between Prescribers’ Perceptions of the Utilization of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder and Opioid Dependence Treatability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between Prescribers’ Perceptions of the Utilization of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder and Opioid Dependence Treatability |
| title_short | Association between Prescribers’ Perceptions of the Utilization of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder and Opioid Dependence Treatability |
| title_sort | association between prescribers perceptions of the utilization of medication for opioid use disorder and opioid dependence treatability |
| topic | medication for opioid use disorder SUD treatment prescribers’ perceptions of treatment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/9/1733 |
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