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Maier M, Powell D, Harrison C, Gordon J, Murchie P, Allan JL. Assessing Decision Fatigue in General Practitioners' Prescribing Decisions Using the Australian BEACH Data Set. Med Decis Making 2024; 44:627-640. [PMID: 39056336 PMCID: PMC11346129 DOI: 10.1177/0272989x241263823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND General practitioners (GPs) make numerous care decisions throughout their workdays. Extended periods of decision making can result in decision fatigue, a gradual shift toward decisions that are less cognitively effortful. This study examines whether observed patterns in GPs' prescribing decisions are consistent with the decision fatigue phenomenon. We hypothesized that the likelihood of prescribing frequently overprescribed medications (antibiotics, benzodiazepines, opioids; less effortful to prescribe) will increase and the likelihood of prescribing frequently underprescribed medications (statins, osteoporosis medications; more effortful to prescribe) will decrease over the workday. METHODS This study used nationally representative primary care data on GP-patient encounters from the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health program from Australia. The association between prescribing decisions and order of patient encounters over a GP's workday was assessed with generalized linear mixed models accounting for clustering and adjusting for patient, provider, and encounter characteristics. RESULTS Among 262,456 encounters recorded by 2,909 GPs, the odds of prescribing antibiotics significantly increased by 8.7% with 15 additional patient encounters (odds ratio [OR] = 1.087; confidence interval [CI] = 1.059-1.116). The odds of prescribing decreased significantly with 15 additional patient encounters by 6.3% for benzodiazepines (OR = 0.937; CI = 0.893-0.983), 21.9% for statins (OR = 0.791; CI = 0.753-0.831), and 25.0% for osteoporosis medications (OR = 0.750; CI = 0.690-0.814). No significant effects were observed for opioids. All findings were replicated in confirmatory analyses except the effect of benzodiazepines. CONCLUSIONS GPs were increasingly likely to prescribe antibiotics and were less likely to prescribe statins and osteoporosis medications as the workday wore on, which was consistent with decision fatigue. There was no convincing evidence of decision fatigue effects in the prescribing of opioids or benzodiazepines. These findings establish decision fatigue as a promising target for optimizing prescribing behavior. HIGHLIGHTS We found that as general practitioners progress through their workday, they become more likely to prescribe antibiotics that are reportedly overprescribed and less likely to prescribe statins and osteoporosis medications that are reportedly underprescribed.This change in decision making over time is consistent with the decision fatigue phenomenon. Decision fatigue occurs when we make many decisions without taking a rest break. As we make those decisions, we become gradually more likely to make decisions that are less difficult.The findings of this study show that decision fatigue is a possible target for improving guideline-compliant prescribing of pharmacologic medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Maier
- Health Psychology, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Daniel Powell
- Health Psychology, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | | | - Julie Gordon
- School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Peter Murchie
- Academic Primary Care, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Julia L. Allan
- Division of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
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Laing R, Xia T, Grist E, Dostal J, Nielsen S, Picco L. Correlates of stocking naloxone: a cross-sectional survey of community pharmacists. Int J Clin Pharm 2024:10.1007/s11096-024-01773-3. [PMID: 39042352 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-024-01773-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Provision of take-home naloxone (THN) and overdose education reduces opioid-related mortality. In Australia, from July 2022, all Australian community pharmacies were eligible to supply naloxone for free through the national THN Program. AIM This study aimed to identify naloxone stocking rates and correlates of stocking naloxone across Australian pharmacies. METHOD Data were collected from a representative sample of Australian pharmacists in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia via an online survey. Data collected included pharmacy and pharmacist characteristics and services offered within the pharmacy, including needle and syringe programs, opioid agonist treatment (OAT) and stocking naloxone. Binary probit regression analysis was used to identify correlates of stocking naloxone after controlling for key covariates. RESULTS Data from 530 pharmacists were analysed. In total, 321 pharmacies (60.6%) reported stocking naloxone. Chain pharmacies and pharmacies that provided OAT had a greater probability of stocking naloxone (B = 0.307, 95%CI: [0.057, 0.556], and B = 0.543, 95%CI: [0.308, 0.777] respectively). Most (61.7%) pharmacists felt comfortable discussing overdose prevention with patients who use prescription opioids, and this comfort was associated with a higher probability of stocking naloxone (B = 0.392, 95%CI: 0.128, 0.655). Comfort discussing overdose prevention with people who use illicit opioids was lower (49.4%) and was not associated with stocking naloxone. CONCLUSION There is scope to increase stocking of naloxone and comfort with overdose prevention, particularly through addressing comfort working with higher risk groups such as people who use illicit opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Laing
- Monash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Peninsula Campus, Monash University, 47-49 Moorooduc Hwy, VIC 3199, Frankston, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Ting Xia
- Monash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Peninsula Campus, Monash University, 47-49 Moorooduc Hwy, VIC 3199, Frankston, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Grist
- Monash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Peninsula Campus, Monash University, 47-49 Moorooduc Hwy, VIC 3199, Frankston, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jana Dostal
- Monash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Peninsula Campus, Monash University, 47-49 Moorooduc Hwy, VIC 3199, Frankston, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Suzanne Nielsen
- Monash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Peninsula Campus, Monash University, 47-49 Moorooduc Hwy, VIC 3199, Frankston, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Louisa Picco
- Monash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Peninsula Campus, Monash University, 47-49 Moorooduc Hwy, VIC 3199, Frankston, Melbourne, Australia
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Simpson J, Simpson BS, Gerber C. A LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of 17 opioids in biosolids. Talanta 2024; 272:125775. [PMID: 38401268 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.125775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
The solid product of wastewater treatment plants is commonly used as a fertiliser to increase sustainability and waste reuse. It has undergone extensive treatment to remove high nutrient loads, pathogens and heavy metals but the extensive matrix of household chemicals, pesticides and pharmaceuticals remains, untargeted by most treatment technologies. These compounds, particularly pharmaceuticals, have been detected in biosolids with there being evidence of uptake by plants. With the current opioid pandemic in North America and overprescription, a simple method is required for the extraction of opioids from a solid medium as to ascertain the concentrations the environment is exposed to. A sonication-liquid-liquid extracted method was developed where biosolids were suspended in water and extracted using ethyl acetate before analysis on LC MS/MS. Sodium and potassium chloride were compared along with acidic and alkaline conditions. The optimised method utilised NaCl at a pH of 12 and was validated for 17 opioids, achieving linearity >0.987, 86-113% matrix effect and 0.1-10 μg/kg limits of detection. Upon analysis of biosolids destined for agriculture, 14 opioids were detected across all samples in a concentration range of 1-289 μg/kg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Simpson
- University of South Australia, Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical Health Sciences, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Bradley S Simpson
- University of South Australia, Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical Health Sciences, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Cobus Gerber
- University of South Australia, Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical Health Sciences, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
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Mitra B, Roman C, Wu B, Luckhoff C, Goubrial D, Amos T, Bannon-Murphy H, Huynh R, Dooley M, Smit DV, Cameron PA. Restriction of oxycodone in the emergency department (ROXY-ED): A randomised controlled trial. Br J Pain 2023; 17:491-500. [PMID: 38107754 PMCID: PMC10722107 DOI: 10.1177/20494637231189031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The prescription of opioids in emergency care has been associated with harm, including overdose and dependence. The aim of this trial was to assess restriction of access to oxycodone (ROXY), in combination with education and guideline modifications, versus education and guideline modifications alone (standard care) to reduce oxycodone administration in the Emergency Department (ED). Methods An unblinded, active control, randomised controlled trial was conducted in an adult tertiary ED. Participants were patients aged 18-75 years who had analgesics administered in the ED. The primary intervention was ROXY, through removal of all oxycodone immediate release tablets from the ED imprest, with availability of a small supply after senior clinician approval. The intervention did not restrict prescription of discharge medications. The primary outcome measure was oxycodone administration rates. Secondary outcomes were administration rates of other analgesic medications, time to initial analgesics and oxycodone prescription on discharge. Results There were 2258 patients eligible for analysis. Oxycodone was administered to 80 (6.1%) patients in the ROXY group and 221 (23.3%) patients in the standard care group (relative risk (RR) 0.26; 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.33; p < .001). Tapentadol was prescribed more frequently in the ROXY group (RR 2.17; 95% CI: 1.71-2.74), while there were no differences in prescription of other analgesic medications. On discharge, significantly fewer patients were prescribed oxycodone (RR 0.51; 95% CI: 0.39-0.66) and no differences were observed in prescription rates of other analgesic medications. There was no difference in time to first analgesic (HR 0.94; 95% CI: 0.86-1.02). Conclusions Restricted access to oxycodone was superior to education and guideline modifications alone for reducing oxycodone use in the ED and reducing discharge prescriptions of oxycodone from the ED. The addition of simple restrictive interventions is recommended to enable rapid changes to clinician behaviour to reduce the potential harm associated with the prescribing of oxycodone in the ED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biswadev Mitra
- Emergency & Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Cristina Roman
- Emergency & Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Pharmacy Department, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Bertha Wu
- Emergency & Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Carl Luckhoff
- Emergency & Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Diana Goubrial
- Emergency & Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Pharmacy Department, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Timothy Amos
- Emergency & Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Ronald Huynh
- Emergency & Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael Dooley
- Pharmacy Department, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - De Villiers Smit
- Emergency & Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter A. Cameron
- Emergency & Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Shebeshi D, Allingham S, White J, Tardif H, Holloway D. Factors associated with general practitioner visits for pain in people experiencing chronic pain. J Prim Health Care 2023; 15:199-205. [PMID: 37756231 DOI: 10.1071/hc23004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Patients with chronic pain (CP) are frequent users of general practitioners (GPs). Aim This study aimed to assess factors associated with the rate of GP visits related to pain in patients with CP. Methods This study used data collected by adult specialist pain management services (SPMS) that participated in the electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration (ePPOC) in Australia. Adult patients (18 years or older) with CP (duration greater than 3 months) who were referred to SPMS from the calendar year 2015-2021 were included (N = 84 829). Results Patients who reported severe anxiety, stress, pain, pain interference, pain catastrophising and severely impaired pain self-efficacy were more likely to seek help from a GP. Patients with longer pain duration had a lower rate of GP visits. The rate of GP visits was 1.22 (IRR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.26) times higher in patients with severe pain severity, compared to patients with mild pain severity. Patients who used opioids were more likely to visit a GP (IRR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.30, 1.34) than those who were not using opioids. Discussions More than half of the adult CP patients had greater than three GP visits in the 3 months before referral. This study would indicate that some patients may attend their GP to seek an opioid prescription. Given the rising use of opioids nationally, future study is required on opioid users' GP visitation practices. Additionally, the inverse association between pain duration and the rate of GP visits warrants further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinberu Shebeshi
- Australian Health Services Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Samuel Allingham
- Australian Health Services Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Janelle White
- Australian Health Services Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Hilarie Tardif
- Australian Health Services Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - David Holloway
- Australian Health Services Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
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