Table 1.
Baseline EM provider cognitions
| Thoughts About Patients who Present with Pain who Have a Concerning History of Opioid Abuse and/or Diversion | Strongly Agree, No. (%) | Agree, No. (%) | Neither Agree nor Disagree, No. (%) | Disagree, No. (%) | Strongly Disagree, No. (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A key responsibility of emergency providers is effective communication with these patients | 15 (65) | 5 (22) | 0 | 0 | 3 (13) |
| I dread having to treat them | 2 (9) | 5 (22) | 10 (43) | 5 (22) | 1 (4) |
| I will be able to help them improve their lives | 2 (9) | 0 | 11 (48) | 9 (39) | 1 (4) |
| They are abusing the health care system | 1 (4) | 7 (31) | 9 (39) | 5 (22) | 1 (4) |
| I feel bad that they are suffering | 4 (17) | 15 (65) | 3 (13) | 1 (4) | 0 |
|
| |||||
| Comfort with Patients who Present with Pain who Have a Concerning History of Opioid Abuse and/or Diversion | Totally Comfortable | Somewhat Comfortable | Neither Comfortable nor Uncomfortable | Somewhat Uncomfortable | Totally Uncomfortable |
|
| |||||
| Managing these patients | 8 (35) | 8 (35) | 2 (9) | 4 (17) | 1 (4) |
| Prescribing opioids to them | 1 (4) | 5 (22) | 0 | 13 (57) | 4 (17) |
| Discussing changes in pain management with them | 3 (13) | 8 (35) | 3 (13) | 9 (39) | 0 |
| Referring them to substance use treatment | 9 (39) | 6 (26) | 4 (17) | 3 (13) | 1 (4) |
EM = emergency medicine.