Kao-Ping Chua1, Jennifer F Waljee2, Vidhya Gunaseelan3, Romesh P Nalliah4, Chad M Brummett5. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Electronic address: chuak@med.umich.edu. 2. Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 3. Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 4. University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 5. Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: It is unknown whether certain dentists account for disproportionate shares of dental opioid prescriptions and high-risk prescriptions. Identifying and characterizing such dentists could inform the targeting of initiatives to improve the appropriateness and safety of dental opioid prescribing. METHODS: In May 2021, the authors conducted a cross-sectional analysis using the IQVIA Longitudinal Prescription Database, which reports dispensing from 92% of U.S. pharmacies, and 2 provider databases (IQVIA OneKey, National Plan and Provider Enumeration System). Analyses included opioid prescriptions from dentists dispensed in 2019 to patients aged >12 years. High-risk prescriptions were those considered high risk by any of 3 metrics (prescriptions to opioid-naïve patients exceeding a 3-day supply, prescriptions with daily opioid dosage ≥50 morphine milligram equivalents, opioid prescriptions with benzodiazepine overlap). Among all prescriptions and high-risk prescriptions, the authors calculated the proportion accounted for by high-volume dentists -- those with prescription counts in the 95th percentile or higher. Using logistic regression, the characteristics associated with being a high-volume dentist were identified. RESULTS: In 2019, a total of 141,345 dentists accounted for 10,736,743 opioid prescriptions dispensed to patients aged >12 years; 4,242,634 (39.5%) were high-risk prescriptions. The 7,079 high-volume dentists, a group representing 5.0% of the 141,345 dentists, accounted for 46.9% of all prescriptions and 47.5% of high-risk prescriptions. Male sex, younger age, non‒Northeast location, and specialization in oral and maxillofacial surgery were associated with a higher risk of being a high-volume dentist. CONCLUSIONS: In 2019, high-volume dentists accounted for almost half of dental opioid prescriptions and high-risk prescriptions. Quality improvement initiatives targeting these dentists may be warranted.
INTRODUCTION: It is unknown whether certain dentists account for disproportionate shares of dental opioid prescriptions and high-risk prescriptions. Identifying and characterizing such dentists could inform the targeting of initiatives to improve the appropriateness and safety of dental opioid prescribing. METHODS: In May 2021, the authors conducted a cross-sectional analysis using the IQVIA Longitudinal Prescription Database, which reports dispensing from 92% of U.S. pharmacies, and 2 provider databases (IQVIA OneKey, National Plan and Provider Enumeration System). Analyses included opioid prescriptions from dentists dispensed in 2019 to patients aged >12 years. High-risk prescriptions were those considered high risk by any of 3 metrics (prescriptions to opioid-naïve patients exceeding a 3-day supply, prescriptions with daily opioid dosage ≥50 morphine milligram equivalents, opioid prescriptions with benzodiazepine overlap). Among all prescriptions and high-risk prescriptions, the authors calculated the proportion accounted for by high-volume dentists -- those with prescription counts in the 95th percentile or higher. Using logistic regression, the characteristics associated with being a high-volume dentist were identified. RESULTS: In 2019, a total of 141,345 dentists accounted for 10,736,743 opioid prescriptions dispensed to patients aged >12 years; 4,242,634 (39.5%) were high-risk prescriptions. The 7,079 high-volume dentists, a group representing 5.0% of the 141,345 dentists, accounted for 46.9% of all prescriptions and 47.5% of high-risk prescriptions. Male sex, younger age, non‒Northeast location, and specialization in oral and maxillofacial surgery were associated with a higher risk of being a high-volume dentist. CONCLUSIONS: In 2019, high-volume dentists accounted for almost half of dental opioid prescriptions and high-risk prescriptions. Quality improvement initiatives targeting these dentists may be warranted.
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