Prescription Opioids & Substance Use Disorder

PI: Carri Casteel
University of Iowa College of Public Health
Department of Occupational & Environmental Health

Interventions targeting deprescribing of prescription opioids and other fall-risk increasing drugs can reduce falls and fall-related injuries. However, reaching high-risk older adults, including those living in rural communities, with falls prevention programs can be challenging. The long-term goal of the proposed study is to develop a sustainable program for healthcare systems to reduce fatal and nonfatal falls among high-risk older adults living independently in their communities. The objective of the proposed study is to examine how a medication care plan, grounded in established medication deprescribing and tapering frameworks, can be implemented in primary care clinics to reduce prescription opioid use among older adults living in rural Iowa communities. Aim 1: Examine implementation of a clinic-based, individualized opioid medication care plan for patient adherence to opioid deprescribing recommendations. Aim 2: Identify patient factors associated with patient adherence to opioid medication deprescribing recommendations. Aim 3: Describe the acceptability, usability and relevance of an opioid medication care plan among healthcare system administrators, providers (health coach, pharmacists, prescribers) and patients.