OBJECTIVES : Mandated prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) use and limits on the duration of opioid prescriptions for acute, non-cancer pain are both interventions intended to limit opioid misuse. The state of Texas will require pharmacists to query the PDMP prior to dispensing opioid prescriptions beginning September 1, 2019. The present study seeks to describe community pharmacists’ attitudes towards mandated PDMP use and limited duration acute opioid prescriptions.

METHODS : A cross-sectional survey design was used to assess Texas community pharmacy preceptors’ attitudes towards mandated PDMP use and seven-day opioid prescription prescribing limits. Five items scaled on a Likert scale of 1, “Unlikely” to 7, “Likely” were used to assess the expected outcome of each policy change and another five items scaled on a Likert scale ranging from -3, “Undesirable” to +3 “Desirable” were used to assess level of desirability toward each outcome item. Attitudes were defined as the product of outcome expectation and level of desirability toward each behavior and were thus scaled from -21 to 21 with scores over 0 considered “positive” and scores under 0 considered “negative”. The survey instrument was administered online via Qualtrics® using a modified Dillman’s tailored design. A raffle drawing for 15, $50-dollar Amazon gift cards was offered as an incentive.

RESULTS : In total, 117 pharmacists were surveyed via email and 23 responses were received (19.7%). Only 35%(N=8) of pharmacists assessed the PDMP for more than 60% of patients while 82%(N=19) had used it in the last week. Most pharmacists (N=17, 74%) had a positive attitude towards mandatory PDMP use while 52%(N=12) of pharmacists had a negative attitude towards the seven-day prescribing limit.

CONCLUSIONS : PDMP use was inconsistent among this sample and many held negative perceptions toward limiting the duration of opioid prescriptions for acute pain. Understanding pharmacists’ perceptions of opioid policy is critical to insuring effective implementation.