Objective: Workers in industries with high rates of opioid dispensing as well as those with high rates of non-fatal work-related injuries are at greater risk for opioid misuse, which can lead to addiction, overdose, or death.
Methods: Using secondary cross-sectional data collected from 856 healthcare workers, this pilot study examines a conceptual model for workers' intentions to seek out prescription opioids and intentions to use opioids at higher doses over longer periods.
Results: Results showed significant protective effects of beliefs, injunctive and subjective norms, and behavioral control on intentions to seek out opioids. On intentions to use higher doses over a longer time, knowledge, beliefs, behavioral control, patient-provider communication, workplace safety, and workplace autonomy had significant protective effects.
Conclusions: Findings from this study could be used to inform future multilevel interventions to prevent opioid misuse among employee populations.
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