Using primary care data to understand Opioid Prescribing, Policy Impacts and Clinical Outcomes: A protocol for the OPPICO Study

Study identification

• EU PAS number:
  EUPAS43218
• Study ID:
  43219
• Official title and acronym:
  Using primary care data to understand Opioid Prescribing, Policy Impacts and Clinical Outcomes: A protocol for the OPPICO Study
• DARWIN EU® study:
  No
• Study countries:
  Australia
• Study description:
  Australia has seen a near doubling of opioid-related mortality in the past decade, with many of these harms linked to prescription opioids. Recently, a key strategy to attempt to reduce opioid-related harm has been through state and national policy-led changes in prescribing, including ‘upscheduling’ medicines (e.g. from over-the-counter to prescription only), implementing prescription monitoring systems (e.g. surveillance that flags high-risk prescribing & patients), and reducing pack sizes to limit supply. Few studies have specifically explored intended and unintended outcomes of these changes. In Australia, nearly half of all opioids are prescribed in primary care. This makes it important to understand how opioid prescribing within these settings are influenced by policy. Using primary care data, the study will provide new insights into opioid prescribing including the impact of policy and patient characteristics on opioid prescribing. The specific aims are: 1)To evaluate the impact of recent Australian and Victorian policies on opioid prescribing in primary care, including but not limited to codeine rescheduling, clinical guideline implementation and prescription monitoring programs, 2)To understand the impact of recent Australian primary care opioid prescribing guideline recommendations on specific conditions, 3) To examine the different patterns and outcomes of opioid cessation and 4) To explore the use and correlates of non-opioid and non-pharmacological approaches among people prescribed opioids. We will conduct a retrospective cohort analysis of patients prescribed opioids using a range epidemiological approaches. This will include interrupted time series analysis to evaluate the impact of policies on opioid prescribing.
• Study status:
  Planned

Research institutions and networks

Institutions

Monash University

Study timelines

Date when funding contract was signed

Planned:01/01/2021

Actual:01/01/2021

Study start date

Planned:15/01/2021

Date of final study report

Planned:29/12/2023

Sources of funding

Other

More details on funding

Australian NHMRC, University PhD Scholarships

Regulatory

• Was the study required by a regulatory body?:
  No
• Is the study required by a Risk Management Plan (RMP)?:
  Not applicable