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Abstract

Abstract

Introduction:

Opioid overdose is a pressing public health concern in the United States. In 2022, prescription opioids were involved in 15% of all opioid deaths.1 Despite CDC recommendations for prescribing naloxone to high-risk patients, primary care physicians prescribe only 1.5 naloxone prescriptions per 100 prescriptions of high-dose opioids.2,3 Strategies are needed for healthcare institutions to expand naloxone access and mitigate opioid-related harm. This pilot study assesses the impact of a pharmacist-led quality improvement patient outreach initiative on increasing naloxone prescribing for adult patients taking ≥ 50 MME per day of prescription opioids as recommended by current CDC guidelines.

Methods:

This pilot study was a non-randomized quality improvement initiative involving ambulatory patients ≥ 18 years of age in a General Internal Medicine (GIM) Clinic prescribed ≥ 50 MME/day of opioids for chronic pain from August to November 2023. Patients without a confirmed dispense of naloxone in the past 12 months and meeting other eligibility criteria were contacted, by letter and telephone, to provide naloxone education. If accepted, a prescription for naloxone was sent to the patient’s pharmacy.

Results:

The number of patients with prescriptions for both naloxone and ≥ 50 MME/day of an opioid increased from 24 patients (56%) to 37 patients (86%) after the pharmacist led patient outreach intervention, a 54% increase.

Conclusions:

Pharmacist-led patient outreach increased the concomitant prescribing of naloxone for patients taking high dose opioids. Opportunities remain for identification of patients in need of naloxone education and prescriptions.

Additional Files
Supplement 1.docx (12 kB)
Supplement 1
Supplement 2.docx (17 kB)
Supplement 2
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