title: SCOPE of Pain: An Evaluation of an Opioid Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy Continuing Education Program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Due to the high prevalence of prescription opioid misuse, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandated a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) requiring manufacturers of extended-release/long-acting (ER/LA) opioid analgesics to fund continuing education based on a FDA Blueprint. This article describes the Safe and Competent Opioid Prescribing Education (SCOPE of Pain) program, an ER/LA opioid analgesic REMS program, and its impact on clinician knowledge, confidence, attitudes, and self-reported clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants of the 3-h SCOPE of Pain training completed pre-, immediate post- and 2-month post-assessments.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary target group (n = 2,850), and a subset (n = 476) who completed a 2-month post-assessment, consisted of clinicians licensed to prescribe ER/LA opioid analgesics, who care for patients with chronic pain and who completed the 3-h training between February 28, 2013 and June 13, 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immediately post-program, there was a significant increase in correct responses to knowledge questions (60% to 84%, P ≤ 0.02) and 87% of participants planned to make practice changes. At 2-months post-program, there continued to be a significant increase in correct responses to knowledge questions (60% to 69%, P ≤ 0.03) and 67% reported increased confidence in applying safe opioid prescribing care and 86% reported implementing practice changes. There was also an improvement in alignment of desired attitudes toward safe opioid prescribing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SCOPE of Pain program improved knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and self-reported clinical practice in safe opioid prescribing. This national REMS program holds potential to improve the safe use of opioids for the treatment of chronic pain.
authors: Daniel P
authors: DP
authors: Alford
authors: Lara
authors: L
authors: Zisblatt
authors: Pamela
authors: P
authors: Ng
authors: Sean M
authors: SM
authors: Hayes
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Peloquin
authors: Ilana
authors: I
authors: Hardesty
authors: Julie L
authors: JL
authors: White
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid