University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Maliheh Free Clinic, Salt Lake City, Utah.
J Ethn Subst Abuse. 2020 Jan-Mar;19(1):58-69. doi: 10.1080/15332640.2018.1456387. Epub 2018 Jul 24.
The annual number of opioid prescriptions for pain relief has been increasing in the United States. This increase has raised concerns about prescription opioid abuse and overdose. The purpose of this study was to examine opioid risks (risk factors that increase the chance of opioid abuse) among uninsured primary care patients utilizing a free clinic. Data were collected using a self-administered paper survey in the waiting room of the free clinic from May to July 2017 ( = 506). Higher levels of somatic symptoms were associated with higher levels of opioid risks. U.S.-born English speakers had higher levels of opioid risk than non-U.S.-born English speakers and Spanish speakers. Being employed was associated with higher levels of opioid risk while attending college or being postcollegiate was related to lower levels of opioid risk. Research surrounding best practices, prescription trends, and population risk is vital in driving health and social policy. Further research would benefit from examining where people are obtaining opioids. In addition, further research on opioid abuse among Hispanic populations would be beneficial. Finally, future studies should examine how prescribing practices are different among free clinic health professionals in comparison to health care professionals working in-patient or at for-profit clinics.
美国用于缓解疼痛的阿片类药物处方数量逐年增加。这种增长引起了人们对处方类阿片滥用和过量用药的担忧。本研究旨在通过利用免费诊所的方式，研究未参保初级保健患者的阿片类药物风险（增加阿片类药物滥用几率的风险因素）。2017 年 5 月至 7 月期间，在免费诊所的候诊室通过自我管理的纸质调查问卷收集数据（ = 506）。更高水平的躯体症状与更高水平的阿片类药物风险相关。与非美国出生的英语使用者和西班牙语使用者相比，土生土长的美国英语使用者的阿片类药物风险更高。就业与更高水平的阿片类药物风险相关，而大学就读或大学毕业后与较低水平的阿片类药物风险相关。围绕最佳实践、处方趋势和人群风险的研究对于推动健康和社会政策至关重要。进一步的研究将受益于研究人们在哪里获得阿片类药物。此外，研究西班牙裔人群中的阿片类药物滥用情况也将有所裨益。最后，未来的研究应该研究与在住院或盈利性诊所工作的医疗保健专业人员相比，免费诊所的医疗保健专业人员的处方实践有何不同。
