Students Research in Progress
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
08:30 AM–10:00 AM
Abstract
Introduction:
Buprenorphine is an effective medication for opioid use disorder (OUD), but gaps in utilization persist. To-go packs of buprenorphine have emerged as a bridge for patients discharged from the emergency department (ED) who may have difficulty in obtaining an outpatient prescription.
Research Question or Hypothesis: What is the difference in ED return rate and proportion of days covered (PDC) following buprenorphine to-go pack implementation for patients with OUD discharged from the ED?
Study Design: Pre-post study (August 2021 to April 2024)
Methods: Adult patients discharged from a single urban ED who received buprenorphine were included. Patients were categorized as either pre- (8/1/2021-8/27/2022) or post- (8/28/2022-4/30/2024) to-go pack implementation. Data was extracted via the electronic health record as well as the Pennsylvania prescription drug monitoring program post-discharge. The primary outcomes were the return rate to the ED within 30 days and the buprenorphine PDC within 30 days. Descriptive analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel and group comparisons were calculated using statistical software, including Social Science Statistics, GraphPad, and SPSS.
Results: A total of 260 patients were included, with 129 patients in the pre-group and 131 patients in the post-group. The cohort was primarily male (164; 63.1%), white (200; 76.9%), with Medicaid (188; 72.3%), and a mean age of 40.9 years. A total of 42 patients (32.6%) returned to the ED at 30 days in the pre-implementation group compared to 41 (31.3%) in the post-implementation group (p=0.83). The PDC in the pre-implementation group was 59.9% and 62.5% in the post-implementation group (p=0.59).
Conclusion: Implementation of buprenorphine to-go packs showed no significant changes in return rates to the ED and PDC among patients receiving buprenorphine in the ED.
Presenting Author
Maeghan M Biche PharmD Candidate 2025Duquesne University
Authors
Alyssa J Bellis PharmD Candidate 2025
Duquesne University
Jordan R Covvey PharmD, PhD, BCPS
Duquesne University
Anthony J Guarascio PharmD, BCPS
Allegheny General Hospital
Michael Lynch MD, FACMT
University of Pittsburgh
Courtney A Montepara PharmD, BCCP
Duquesne University
Branden D Nemecek PharmD, BCPS
Duquesne University
Keith J Rossell PharmD Candidate 2025
Duquesne University
Kyle A Schulze PharmD Candidate 2025
Duquesne University
David E Zimmerman PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Duquesne University