Rank | Outcome | Weighted Score |
---|---|---|
1 | Effects of CNCP and taking opioids for CNCP on quality of life | 146 |
2 | Assessment of patient’s risk of addiction before starting opioid therapy by prescribers, such as use of tools. | 138 |
3 | Monitoring patients on opioid therapy for aberrant drug-related behaviour | 78 |
4 | Prescribing of opioids at or greater than the watchful dose (200 mg of morphine equivalent per day) for CNCP | 74 |
5 | Mortality rates associated with prescription opioid overdose | 64 |
6 | Prevalence and incidence of prescription opioid addiction | 62 |
7 | Discontinuation or tapering of opioids who experience adverse effects or insufficient opioid effectiveness | 59 |
8 | Assessment of pain using a validated pain scale or another validated method | 44 |
9 | Use of treatment agreements with patients before initiating opioid therapy for CNCP | 43 |
10 | Use of patient information from prescription monitoring programs to monitor patients on opioid therapy for aberrant drug-related behaviours, where available | 42 |
11 | Emergency room visit rates associated with prescription opioid overdose | 30 |
12 | Concomitant prescribing of benzodiazepines and opioids | 29 |
13 | Amount of weak and strong opioids prescribed by jurisdiction and per patient with CNCP | 29 |
14 | Acute and urgent health-care facilities’ use of policies to provide guidance on opioid prescribing | 25 |
15 | Types and amounts of adjunctive medications prescribed for CNCP patients taking opioids | 23 |
16 | Safe initiation of fentanyl during an opioid trial using the “stepped approach” for CNCP | 14 |