@article{ref1,
title="Validation of prescriber risk indicators obtained from prescription drug monitoring program data",
journal="Drug and alcohol dependence",
year="2017",
author="Kreiner, Peter W. and Strickler, Gail K. and Undurraga, Eduardo A. and Torres, Maria E. and Nikitin, Ruslan V. and Rogers, Anne",
volume="173",
number="Suppl 1",
pages="S31-S38",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Prescription opioids are commonly overprescribed. However, validated measures of inappropriate controlled substance prescribing are lacking. This study examined associations between prescriber risk indicators developed as part of a public health surveillance project and medical board disciplinary actions against prescribers. <br><br>METHODS: We compiled 12 prescriber risk indicators using data from the Maine prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) for 2010. We used logistic regression models to assess the relative likelihood of the top 1%, 2%, 5%, and 10% of prescribers on each risk indicator having been subject to medical board disciplinary actions, those citing inappropriate prescribing, or those involving license suspension or revocation, during 2010-2014, controlling for prescriber medical specialty and gender. <br><br>RESULTS: The top 1% of prescribers for number of patients, opioid prescriptions per day, and opioid dosage prescribed per day had a greater likelihood of medical board disciplinary actions citing inappropriate prescribing, relative to a matched sample of other (non-top 1%) prescribers. Of the 56 prescribers in the top 1% for opioid prescriptions per day, nine (16.1%) were sanctioned for inappropriate prescribing, compared with 11 of 224 (0.5%) in the comparison group. The top 2% of prescribers for opioid dosage per day, and average distance patients travel to prescriber, had a greater likelihood of actions involving license suspension, revocation, or denial for renewal. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Measures derived from PDMP data may be useful in assessing levels of inappropriate prescribing of controlled substances in a population of prescribers, and in evaluating changes associated with efforts to influence prescriber behavior.<br><br>Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0376-8716",
doi="10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.11.020",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.11.020"
}