On any given day in Australia, about 53,000 people are receiving pharmacotherapy treatment for opioid dependence.1 In 2023, more patients received a buprenorphine formulation than methadone for the first time.1
This clinical audit begins with a 1.5-hour pre-learning activity exploring case studies in opioid use disorder, current options for opioid dependency treatment, and the use of opioid pharmacotherapies in medication assisted treatment of opioid dependence (MATOD). Risks and benefits of latest opioid agonist treatments will be covered, with a focus on long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) products.
After completing the pre-learning activity, GPs will perform a clinical audit of 5 patients currently receiving MATOD in the form of sublingual buprenorphine, or methadone. Patient management will be reviewed against Australian ODT guidelines, and GPs will assess whether the patient could benefit from switching to a long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) medication. Guidance is provided on how to undertake this switch, either in the primary care setting or with appropriate referral for specialist care.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2024) National Opioid Pharmacotherapy Statistics Annual Data collection, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 17 December 2024.
