How digital content helps HCPs curb opioid abuse through better prescribing decisions

Managing pain is, well, a pain. On one hand are the patients who are physically suffering, desperate for relief. On the other hand are the prescribers who are driven to help their patients but who are finding that their pain management protocols are now complicated by the treatment of an opioid abuse epidemic. In fact, a poll of physicians within our digital community found that 64% believe that doctors have a responsibility to help curb opioid abuse.

Digital content is helping to give prescribers the tools they need to serve their patients while keeping abuse in check. And by delivering information concisely and in an engaging format, this approach is having a measurable (and almost immediate!) impact on how physicians approach opioid prescription in practice.

For example, over 1,500 members of our web and mobile physician community recently engaged in an expert-led interactive presentation offering education and best practices to help physicians make smarter opioid prescribing decisions.

The patient experience and possibly adherence is affected by the extent to which they feel their participation is valued

After interacting with this 10-minute piece of expert-led content:

• Over 61% of participating physicians say they will now check available databases for patients' opioid-related activity before prescribing a controlled substance - a 60% increase from before they engaged with the content 
  
• Almost 30% say they will check it for patients who have been prescribed controlled substances by other providers.
  

In the words of one practitioner after interacting with the digital content: “[Applying these guidelines to practice] has allowed me to prescribe medications more confidently. I feel better about continuing their medications.”

In addition to expert-led content like this, Aptus Health offers physicians another unique way to stay current with the rapid changes in medicine, through our Univadis healthcare professional platform. The pain management topic found under most specialties at Univadis highlights curated synopses of the best literature dealing with the opioid abuse epidemic, including an overview of 12 predictors of patient risk in opioids.

As these and other examples illustrate, credible evidence on key clinical topics - delivered in a concise format that providers value - has the power to make a real difference in care.

Steve Smith is vice president of strategy at Aptus Health. To learn more contact us at info@aptushealth.com