Abstract:
Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) are still in their infancy but have begun
to demonstrate themselves as potentially useful tools to enhance safe and responsible prescribing
of controlled substances. However, little is known about how Nurse Practitioners (NPs) use these
programs and the potential barriers they face. The purpose of this project was to describe
Alaskan Nurse Practitioner’s (NPs) current practice, beliefs, and barriers regarding the use of the
Alaska PDMP. A questionnaire was sent to 635 Alaskan Advanced Nurse Practitioners and a
total of 204 valid questionnaires were returned. The survey results provided data regarding
prescribing habits, barriers to the use of the PDMP, and barriers registering for the PDMP, as
well as opinions on items that could make the PDMP easier to use and more useful in clinical
practice. It was found that more attention is needed to maximize its exposure and incorporation
into daily workflow if it is to achieve its full potential for reducing drug misuse and abuse while
increasing patient safety. Additional consideration should be given to authorizing registered
users to delegate authority to a licensed person on their staff to access the PDMP in an attempt to
reduce time commitments and increase its usage. Many providers felt that assigning each
individual a unique patient identifier could prevent consumers from filling prescriptions under
aliases or using multiple addresses, which undermines the effectiveness of the PDMP. Finally, an
overwhelming majority of users want faster data entry and proactive reports. This project begins
the exploration of the differences between PDMP users and nonusers and how NPs believe the
process can be improved. A better understanding PDMP use will aide providers in safe
prescribing practices while curbing the prescription drug epidemic and ultimately reducing
abuse, misuse, and death from overdose.
