A toolkit to implement opioid quality improvement efforts in primary care: Findings from a mixed-methods study

Area of Science:

• Primary Care Medicine
• Health Services Research
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Opioid therapy for chronic pain requires effective management strategies in primary care settings.
• The Six Building Blocks (6BBs) program offers a framework for enhancing opioid management.
• Evaluating implementation tools is crucial for successful program adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the usability and effectiveness of the How-to-Implement Toolkit for independent clinic implementation of the 6BBs program.
• To determine if clinics could implement the 6BBs program without dedicated practice facilitator support.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving eight healthcare organizations and 62 clinics.
• Qualitative data were gathered through interviews with clinical staff.
• Quantitative data were collected via surveys, supplemented by descriptive analysis.

Main Results:

• Healthcare organizations valued the Toolkit's resources but expressed a need for practice facilitator assistance.
• Full adoption of the Toolkit was limited; however, individual components were found beneficial.
• Independent implementation without facilitator support proved challenging for comprehensive use.

Conclusions:

• Practice facilitator support is vital for successful implementation of opioid quality improvement initiatives in primary care.
• The How-to-Implement Toolkit and 6BBs resources are accessible via the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality website.
• Tailored support may be necessary to maximize the utility of implementation toolkits in diverse primary care settings.