Brendan Woods1, Michael Legal2, Stephen Shalansky3, Tamara Mihic4, Winnie Ma5. 1. , BScPharm, ACPR, is a Clinical Pharmacist with Royal University Hospital, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 2. , BScPharm, PharmD, ACPR, FCSHP, is Clinical Pharmacy Manager with Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services, Vancouver, British Columbia. 3. , BScPharm, PharmD, ACPR, FCSHP, is a Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator with Providence Health Care, Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services, Vancouver, British Columbia. 4. , BScPharm, PharmD, ACPR, is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist with Providence Health Care, Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services, Vancouver, British Columbia. 5. , BScPharm, ACPR, is a Pharmacy Clinical Supervisor with Providence Health Care, Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the recent increase in opioid overdoses across Canada, few pharmacy-led initiatives have been implemented to address issues related to opioid prescribing in the hospital setting. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to develop a clinical tool, intended for use by hospital pharmacists and informed by best practices from the literature, that would provide a structured approach to enhancing the safety of opioid prescribing. The secondary objective was to collect pharmacists' opinions about the feasibility and utility of this tool. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search and pharmacist focus group analysis provided content for development of a candidate clinical tool. This tool was then piloted by clinical pharmacists working on general medical and surgical units in a single hospital. Pharmacists participating in the pilot were invited to complete an online survey concerning their perceptions of the tool. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the survey results. RESULTS: The literature search and focus group analysis led to development of a candidate clinical tool that focused on Medication review, Optimization, Reassessment, and Education (MORE). It included key risk factors relating to opioid safety, along with suggested mitigating strategies. The MORE tool was piloted for 3 weeks by 14 clinical pharmacists, 9 of whom responded to the subsequent survey. Five respondents indicated that the clinical tool increased their ability to identify risk factors. Five respondents also noted an increase in their ability to identify possible interventions. Most respondents felt that the tool was useful and that it would be feasible to integrate it into their practice; however, they noted that a more streamlined version could improve ease of use. CONCLUSIONS: The MORE tool was well received by clinical pharmacists. Implementation of the tool into routine practice requires additional changes to improve ease of use. Suggestions for modifying and streamlining the tool will be incorporated into future versions. 2020 Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists. All content in the Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy is copyrighted by the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacy. In submitting their manuscripts, the authors transfer, assign, and otherwise convey all copyright ownership to CSHP.
BACKGROUND: Despite the recent increase in opioid overdoses across Canada, few pharmacy-led initiatives have been implemented to address issues related to opioid prescribing in the hospital setting. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to develop a clinical tool, intended for use by hospital pharmacists and informed by best practices from the literature, that would provide a structured approach to enhancing the safety of opioid prescribing. The secondary objective was to collect pharmacists' opinions about the feasibility and utility of this tool. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search and pharmacist focus group analysis provided content for development of a candidate clinical tool. This tool was then piloted by clinical pharmacists working on general medical and surgical units in a single hospital. Pharmacists participating in the pilot were invited to complete an online survey concerning their perceptions of the tool. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the survey results. RESULTS: The literature search and focus group analysis led to development of a candidate clinical tool that focused on Medication review, Optimization, Reassessment, and Education (MORE). It included key risk factors relating to opioid safety, along with suggested mitigating strategies. The MORE tool was piloted for 3 weeks by 14 clinical pharmacists, 9 of whom responded to the subsequent survey. Five respondents indicated that the clinical tool increased their ability to identify risk factors. Five respondents also noted an increase in their ability to identify possible interventions. Most respondents felt that the tool was useful and that it would be feasible to integrate it into their practice; however, they noted that a more streamlined version could improve ease of use. CONCLUSIONS: The MORE tool was well received by clinical pharmacists. Implementation of the tool into routine practice requires additional changes to improve ease of use. Suggestions for modifying and streamlining the tool will be incorporated into future versions. 2020 Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists. All content in the Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy is copyrighted by the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacy. In submitting their manuscripts, the authors transfer, assign, and otherwise convey all copyright ownership to CSHP.
Authors: Susan L Calcaterra; Traci E Yamashita; Sung-Joon Min; Angela Keniston; Joseph W Frank; Ingrid A Binswanger Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2016-05 Impact factor: 5.128