Physical therapists’ attitudes are associated with their confidence in and the frequency with which they engage in prescription opioid medication misuse management practices with their patients. A cross–sectional study

Abstract

Background: In the US, prescription opioid medication misuse (POMM) necessitates engagement of physical therapists (PTs). We (1) evaluated the attitudes of (PT) related to their management of patients with POMM and (2) examined the association between these attitudes and PTs confidence in POMM–related management abilities and the frequency with which they engaged in POMM–related management practices. Methods: We conducted a national survey of PTs that included a modified Drug and Drug Problems Perception Questionnaire (DDPPQ). Confidence in POMM–related abilities and the frequency of engaging in POMM–related management practices were measured. Logistic regression evaluated the association between the DDPPQ subscales (role adequacy, role legitimacy, role self–esteem, role support, job satisfaction) and confidence and frequency outcomes. Results: The analysis included 402 respondents. Role adequacy and legitimacy subscales were associated with confidence and frequency outcomes (p<.05), indicating that more favorable role adequacy and legitimacy attitudes are associated with greater odds of having more confidence in POMM–related management abilities and of engaging in more frequent POMM–related management practices. Conclusions: PTs with a greater sense of preparedness to engage in POMM–related management were more likely to report greater confidence in POMM–related management abilities and engage in POMM–related management practices with greater frequency.

Keywords:

• Physical therapy
• opioid misuse
• physical therapist
• rehabilitation
• opioids

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mitchell Garets, BSW for his assistance in constructing the survey. The authors are solely responsible for the content of this article, which does not necessarily represent the official views of the US Federal Government, including the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The funding organization had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number UL1TR002538. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.