179335 - Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence (MATOD) Module 1 - Safer Opioid Prescribing - for Victorian GPs

The aim of this training is to provide prescribers with information and strategies for safer prescribing of opioids in chronic pain settings. Focusing on evidence-based practice and consultation approaches that help prevent, recognise and manage problems arising from opioid prescribing, this education also informs prescribers of a new tool which is available to all prescribers in dealing with opioid dependence. The basics of how to prescribe Buprenorphine are also covered.

This training is available online and can be accessed by copying the following URL into your internet browser: https://racgp.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eYaKa3gJ2vOAGfr

This training is also infrequently offered as Face-to-Face workshops.

Relevance to General Practice

Recognising and dealing with patients who seek drugs for nonmedical purposes can be a difficult problem in general practice. ‘Prescription shoppers’ and patients with chronic nonmalignant pain problems are the main people who constitute this small but problematic group. The main
drugs they seek are benzodiazepines and opioids. Adequate prescription monitoring mechanisms at the systems level are lacking so GPs need to rely on clinical skills and the patient’s behaviour pattern over time to detect problematic prescription drug misuse. Management strategies may include saying ‘no’ to patients, having a treatment plan, and adopting a universal
precaution approach toward all patients prescribed drugs of addiction. Among patients with chronic nonmalignant pain, requests for increasing opioid doses need careful assessment to elucidate any nonmedical factors that may be at play. Australian Family Physician Vol. 39, No. 8, august 2010.

Learning outcomes

Implement safe and effective opioid prescribing as part of a broader pain management plan.

Summarise the potential benefits and risks associated with opioid prescribing

Recognise, prevent and respond to problematic pharmaceutical opioid use.

Assess the appropriateness of and commence induction of a patient on one of the Opioid Replacement Therapies - Buprenorphine.

Domains of General Practice

D1. Communication skills and the patient-doctor relationship

D2. Applied professional knowledge and skills

D3. Population health and the context of general practice

D4. Professional and ethical role

D5. Organisational and legal dimensions

Curriculum Contextual Units

Adult health
Addiction medicine

This activity is also available on these dates

29/04/2020

Novotel Geelong 10-14 Eastern Beach Road, Geelong

01/03/2020

Ibis Styles Sale, 25-41 Princess Highway, Sale