The involvement of Primary Care Physicians (PCP) in the treatment of patients with Opioid Use Disorder (DUO) is pivotal in promoting customized care and patient’s empowerment. This study aimed to infer the efficiency of the long-standing collaboration among of Addiction Department (AD) of Trieste, PCP and pharmacies, particularly focusing on both prescription appropriateness and adequate medical supervision and toxicological tracking during the first quarter of 2022 within the Trieste area . Data concerning clinical and toxicological condition and prescription appropriateness of 58 patients attending the AD for Personalized Treatment Plan (PTP) issue and referring to 26 different PCP for PTP-related agonist treatment prescription were analysed. Agonist prescription was proper in 81.0% of cases, the PTP was regularly issued by AD specialist in 89.7% of cases and urinary testing was performed ≥ 2 times monthly by patients showing better clinical stabilization and representing 39.7% of the whole sample.
This research suggests that the best clinical outcome is achieved when patients with DUO have appropriate prescription and toxicological monitoring by means of a multidisciplinary teamwork. Therefore, information exchange among different professionals should be enhanced as to improve the quality of the assistance offered by public services as well as the early detection of critical cases and inadequate prescriptions of opioid agonists.