Changing practice behaviors: Online education takes on the opioid prescription epidemic

In the U.S., 82 people die every day as a result of unintentional prescription drug overdose . The opioid abuse epidemic is leading healthcare providers to review how they treat patients with chronic, non-cancer pain. Providers and other healthcare workers in Colorado have access to a new, online course which reviews guidelines on chronic pain management. It teaches a comprehensive approach to assess and document patient function and other strategies to practice before prescribing opioids. Content was developed and reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel of experts, , free of pharmaceutical industry support. Additionally, web resources provide access to tools commonly used in managing chronic pain patients.

Evaluation results from 138 Colorado practitioners indicate that the training has a positive effect on knowledge gained and intent to change practice behavior. People who completed the training found the information useful for their practice (79%); said that it increased their knowledge about the treatment of non-cancer chronic pain (77%); and plan to apply the knowledge they gained in the course to change their current practice (81%).

The top three changes learners intend to make after completing the training are to assess and document patients' functional goals (19%); coordinate care with other providers (16%); and check the state Prescription Drug Monitoring Program regularly (15%).

Online professional education improves knowledge and clinicians' self-reported intent to change practice patterns in management of chronic non-cancer pain patients. Future research will directly assess the impact of this training on opioid prescribing behavior.