Emergency medicine providers' opioid prescribing practices stratified by gender, age, and years in practice.
BACKGROUND
Emergency medicine providers (EMPs) prescribe about 25% of opioids, but the effect of EMP risk perception on decisions to prescribe opioids is unknown. This study was undertaken to identify factors that influence EMP risk and opioid prescribing practices.


METHODS
We distributed an anonymous questionnaire to EMPs at a military trauma and referral center. Response frequencies and distributions were assessed for independence using the Chi-square test.


RESULTS
Eighty-nine EMPs completed the questionnaire (100% response). Respondents were primarily younger male physicians (80%) in practice under five years (55%). Male EMPs were more likely to prescribe more opioid tablets than female ones both when and when not concerned for opioid misuse (P<0.001, P<0.007, respectively). Of the providers, 70% stated that patient age would influence their prescribing decisions. Hydrocodone and oxycodone were the opioids prescribed most frequently. About 60% of the providers reported changing their prescribing behavior would not prevent opioid misuse. Additionally, 40% of the providers believed at least 10% of patients seen at this military ED misused opioids.


CONCLUSIONS
Female EM providers reported prescribing fewer opioid tablets. Patient age influenced prescribing behavior, but the effect is unknown. Finally, EM providers reported that altering their prescribing behavior would not prevent prescription opioid misuse.
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78229, USA.
Shawn M
SM
Varney
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora 80045, USA.
Vikhyat S
VS
Bebarta
Department of Emergency Medicine, Mike O'Callaghan Federal Medical Center, Nellis 89191, USA.
Lisa M
LM
Mannina
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78229, USA.
Rosemarie G
RG
Ramos
Air Force Enroute Care Research Center, Fort Sam Houston 78208, USA; The Geneva Foundation, Tacoma 98402, USA.
Victoria J
VJ
Ganem
The Geneva Foundation, Tacoma 98402, USA.
Katherine R
KR
Carey
Emergency medicine provider; Prescribing practices; Prescription opioid misuse