Table 3.
Respondents’ perception of tasks performed when giving an opioid prescription in the last month in their ED (n=134)*
| Task performed | Never | 1%–4% | 5%–24% | 25%–49% | 50%–74% | 75%–95% | >95% |
| n (%) | |||||||
| Confirmed identity by photo identification | 23 (17) | 4 (3) | 9 (7) | 2 (1) | 5 (4) | 23 (17) | 31 (23) |
| Searched the Ohio prescription monitoring programme | 1 (1) | 8 (6) | 17 (13) | 25 (19) | 27 (20) | 33 (25) | 16 (12) |
| Completed urine or other drug screen | 16 (12) | 50 (37) | 37 (28) | 7 (5) | 3 (2) | 4 (3) | 1 (1) |
| Obtained records from other providers | 16 (12) | 39 (29) | 24 (18) | 17 (13) | 8 (6) | 8 (6) | 7 (5) |
| For patients with chronic pain, contacted their routine opioid prescriber | 7 (5) | 54 (40) | 34 (25) | 16 (12) | 9 (7) | 1 (1) | 1 (1) |
| For patients who visit the ED frequently, conducted a case review or management | 30 (22) | 30 (22) | 21 (16) | 13 (10) | 5 (4) | 18 (13) | 2 (1) |
| Obtained a consultation from the hospital’s palliative or pain service | 59 (44) | 50 (37) | 10 (7) | 2 (1) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (1) |
| Had patients sign a pain agreement | 108 (81) | 14 (10) | 3 (2) | 1 (1) | 0 (0) | 1 (1) | 1 (1) |
| Provide patients with written information on: | |||||||
| Addictive nature of opioids | 31 (23) | 16 (12) | 5 (4) | 10 (7) | 4 (3) | 13 (10) | 31 (23) |
| Potential dangers of the opioid misuse | 31 (23) | 21 (16) | 5 (4) | 10 (7) | 3 (2) | 13 (10) | 31 (23) |
| Appropriate storage and disposal of opioids | 43 (32) | 14 (10) | 8 (6) | 8 (6) | 3 (2) | 4 (3) | 24 (18) |
| The facility’s policy regarding the prescribing of opioids | 44 (33) | 14 (10) | 18 (13) | 13 (10) | 5 (4) | 6 (4) | 7 (5) |
*Some rows do not add up to 100% (n=134) as ‘do not know’ or incomplete responses are not included in the table.
ED, emergency department.