Peer Comparison Feedback on Opioid Prescribing

Effect of Peer Comparison Feedback on Opioid Prescribing by Emergency Medicine Providers

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT03183882

Enrollment

Registered

2017-06-12

Start date

2017-08-07

Completion date

2017-09-28

Last updated

2017-12-02

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Opioid Use

Brief summary

We aim to determine if descriptive normative feedback of peer prescribing reduces opioid analgesic prescribing by emergency medicine providers

Detailed description

State-based Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) are being implemented to reduce prescription drug abuse and diversion. On August 24, 2016, Pennsylvania initiated its mandated PDMP. In prior research, we found that ED providers reduced opioid prescribing by 17% immediately after PDMP went live. Still, there is variability between providers in the frequency of opioid prescribing even after PDMP initiation. Changing clinician prescribing behavior is difficult, but recent research has shown that using peer comparisons can assist behavior change (Meeker D et al., JAMA, 2016). In this study, we will randomize a convenience sample of ED providers to receive either their opioid prescribing history data with peer comparative data or without peer comparative data. We will examine the effect on immediate perceived norms as well as impact on opioid prescribing in the subsequent 3 months. Results could inform behavioral feedback to alter clinician prescribing behaviors

Interventions

BEHAVIORALPersonal Feedback

One-time summary report of their individual history of opioid prescribing over the past 14 months

BEHAVIORALPeer Normative Comparison Feedback

One-time summary report of their individual history of opioid prescribing over the past 14 months WITH comparisons to (a) other providers at their site and (2) other providers at all 15 ED sites with similar prescribing

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 99 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Emergency medicine provider * Writes 10 or more opioid prescriptions per month (on average)

Exclusion criteria

* none

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Normative beliefs	Pre-post intervention	How much, relative to other emergency providers, do they prescribe opioids?
Number of opioid prescriptions per month	3-months pre-intervention to 3-months post intervention	Number of opioid prescriptions written

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026