Factors associated with opioid-tapering success: A mixed methods study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Opioid tapering is recommended when risks of chronic opioid use outweigh benefits. Little is known about patient characteristics or factors related to tapering success. We sought to identify characteristics that predict a 50% reduction in opioid use and qualitatively characterize factors that impact tapering success.

Methods

We used multilevel hierarchical modeling to identify predictors of a 50% reduction in opioid use among Kaiser Permanente Northwest patients who underwent pharmacist-led tapering between 2012 and 2017. We conducted qualitative interviews among patients and pharmacists to identify factors influencing tapering success.

Results

We identified 1384 patients who, on average, were dispensed 207 milligram morphine equivalents per day at baseline.

SUBMITTER: Kuntz JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8127339 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature