Prescribers' perspectives: The impact of the controlled substance scheduling system on providing optimal patient care

Background: In the United States, the scheduling system for controlled substances was established by the Controlled Substance Act of 1970. In 2009, Parker et al. published the study “Physicians' knowledge and attitudes toward scheduling.” Since 2009, the opioid epidemic has gathered national at...

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Main Authors: Michael R. Barnes, Yijia Luo, Jonathon M. Parker, Brian M. Shepler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667276624001082
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author Michael R. Barnes
Yijia Luo
Jonathon M. Parker
Brian M. Shepler
author_facet Michael R. Barnes
Yijia Luo
Jonathon M. Parker
Brian M. Shepler
author_sort Michael R. Barnes
collection DOAJ
description Background: In the United States, the scheduling system for controlled substances was established by the Controlled Substance Act of 1970. In 2009, Parker et al. published the study “Physicians' knowledge and attitudes toward scheduling.” Since 2009, the opioid epidemic has gathered national attention from social and scientific perspectives as the number of drug overdose deaths in the United States has nearly tripled. Objective: To follow up on a 2009 survey by Parker, et al. to determine prescribers' knowledge and attitudes regarding the controlled substance scheduling system and assess the impact of the controlled substance scheduling system on providing optimal patient care. Methods: The cross-sectional survey was designed to assess prescribers' attitudes and mailed to 400 randomly selected physicians and 400 randomly selected nurse practitioners. Results: Prescribers across all groups provided consistent responses suggesting an overall lack of understanding of controlled substance regulations, a negative attitude towards the controlled substance scheduling system, and a detrimental effect on providing optimal patient care. Responses from nurse practitioners differed significantly from physicians in 75 % (3 of the 4) questions regarding regulations, suggesting nurse practitioners possess a greater understanding of pharmaceutical regulations. Specialists' responses demonstrated an enhanced level of dissatisfaction regarding the controlled substance scheduling system compared to primary care providers in 75 % (3 of the 4) questions. Questions regarding the impact of the scheduling system on prescribing patterns differed significantly across multiple demographic groups, notably between physicians and nurse practitioners, differences in practice setting, and primary state of practice for 75 % (3 of the 4) questions. Conclusions: The results of this survey confirm the findings of Parker, et al., and further display the need for investigation into how to improve the controlled substance scheduling system in the United States.
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spelling doaj-art-6f54c9ed93a24d659f9a193e346df6312025-08-20T02:31:09ZengElsevierExploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy2667-27662024-12-011610051110.1016/j.rcsop.2024.100511Prescribers' perspectives: The impact of the controlled substance scheduling system on providing optimal patient careMichael R. Barnes0Yijia Luo1Jonathon M. Parker2Brian M. Shepler3College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; Cerevel Therapeutics, LLC, 222 Jacobs St Suite 200, Cambridge, MA 02141, USACerevel Therapeutics, LLC, 222 Jacobs St Suite 200, Cambridge, MA 02141, USAUltragenyx Pharmaceuticals, 150 Presidential Way, Woburn, MA 01801, USA; Corresponding author.College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USABackground: In the United States, the scheduling system for controlled substances was established by the Controlled Substance Act of 1970. In 2009, Parker et al. published the study “Physicians' knowledge and attitudes toward scheduling.” Since 2009, the opioid epidemic has gathered national attention from social and scientific perspectives as the number of drug overdose deaths in the United States has nearly tripled. Objective: To follow up on a 2009 survey by Parker, et al. to determine prescribers' knowledge and attitudes regarding the controlled substance scheduling system and assess the impact of the controlled substance scheduling system on providing optimal patient care. Methods: The cross-sectional survey was designed to assess prescribers' attitudes and mailed to 400 randomly selected physicians and 400 randomly selected nurse practitioners. Results: Prescribers across all groups provided consistent responses suggesting an overall lack of understanding of controlled substance regulations, a negative attitude towards the controlled substance scheduling system, and a detrimental effect on providing optimal patient care. Responses from nurse practitioners differed significantly from physicians in 75 % (3 of the 4) questions regarding regulations, suggesting nurse practitioners possess a greater understanding of pharmaceutical regulations. Specialists' responses demonstrated an enhanced level of dissatisfaction regarding the controlled substance scheduling system compared to primary care providers in 75 % (3 of the 4) questions. Questions regarding the impact of the scheduling system on prescribing patterns differed significantly across multiple demographic groups, notably between physicians and nurse practitioners, differences in practice setting, and primary state of practice for 75 % (3 of the 4) questions. Conclusions: The results of this survey confirm the findings of Parker, et al., and further display the need for investigation into how to improve the controlled substance scheduling system in the United States.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667276624001082Controlled substancesPrescribingHealthcare policySurveyResearchPharmacist
spellingShingle Michael R. Barnes
Yijia Luo
Jonathon M. Parker
Brian M. Shepler
Prescribers' perspectives: The impact of the controlled substance scheduling system on providing optimal patient care
Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy
Controlled substances
Prescribing
Healthcare policy
Survey
Research
Pharmacist
title Prescribers' perspectives: The impact of the controlled substance scheduling system on providing optimal patient care
title_full Prescribers' perspectives: The impact of the controlled substance scheduling system on providing optimal patient care
title_fullStr Prescribers' perspectives: The impact of the controlled substance scheduling system on providing optimal patient care
title_full_unstemmed Prescribers' perspectives: The impact of the controlled substance scheduling system on providing optimal patient care
title_short Prescribers' perspectives: The impact of the controlled substance scheduling system on providing optimal patient care
title_sort prescribers perspectives the impact of the controlled substance scheduling system on providing optimal patient care
topic Controlled substances
Prescribing
Healthcare policy
Survey
Research
Pharmacist
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667276624001082
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