Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs: Relationships Among Program Awareness; Use; and State Mandates

摘要

The inappropriate use of opioids in the United States has increased markedly and has resulted in a tragic loss of lives. To combat this problem; prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) have been instituted in most states. Use of the programs is voluntary for prescribers in some states; whereas in other states it is mandatory. The current study used a self-report survey instrument that was administered to 223 participant physicians. The goal of the study was to compare awareness and use of the PDMP in a state that mandates use (Ohio) with one that does not (North Carolina). Although awareness was not significantly different between respondents from the two states; self-reported use was significantly higher in the state mandating use (Ohio post-mandate vs. Ohio pre-mandate: 64% vs. 51%; X2 = 15.66; P<.0001; and Ohio post-mandate vs. North Carolina: 64% vs. 42%; x2 = 12.76; P<.0001). Based on these results; mandating use may be an effective method to increase PDMP utilization.