Pharmacists' and prescribers' neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) prevention behaviors: a preliminary analysis.

Background Maternal opioid use and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) incidence have increased markedly in the US in recent years. Objectives (1) To assess prescribers' and community pharmacists' guideline-based NAS prevention behaviors; (2) to describe providers' perceptions of contraceptive appropriateness in female patients of childbearing age. Method Cross-sectional study of 100 randomly selected primary care physicians, 100 prescribers authorized to engage in in-office treatment of opioid use disorders with buprenorphine, 100 pain management clinic directors, and 100 community pharmacists in Tennessee (N = 400 providers total) to evaluate self-reported engagement in 15 NAS prevention behaviors and perceived appropriateness of 8 contraceptive methods in opioid using women of childbearing age.

Opioid Prescribing in Rural Family Practices: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Rural Tennessee, especially rural East Tennessee has seen a dramatic increase in rates of controlled drug prescriptions and controlled drug overdose deaths in recent years. However, little is known about the individual decisions to prescribe or continue prescriptions with relation to addiction concerns.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to learn more about what factors lead to physicians' prescribing control drugs for non-cancer pain through the use of focus groups.

Evaluation of a quality improvement curriculum for family medicine residents.

Background And Objectives: East Tennessee State University's (ETSU) Department of Family Medicine initiated Quality Improvement (QI) training in its three residency programs in 2008. The purpose of the project was to develop, implement, and assess a formal curriculum and experiential learning process to train family medicine residents in QI knowledge and skills.

Methods: Family medicine faculty members received training in QI theory and design.