Healthcare professionals’ perception of prolonged-release buprenorphine in opioid use disorder. FOLIPRO Study

Authors

  • Rodrigo Oraá Gil Red de Salud Mental Bizkaia. Osakidetza. Red de salud mental – ISS Biocruces Bizkaia
  • Diego Sucunza Guibert Camurus SL, Madrid, España
  • María Yébenes Cortés Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research Iberia (PORIB), Madrid
  • Miguel Ángel Casado Gómez Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research Iberia (PORIB), Madrid
  • José Joaquín Antón Basanta Presidente de la Sociedad Española de Sanidad Penitenciaria (SESP). Médico en Centro Penitenciario Albolote Granada
  • Francisco Pascual Pastor Presidente Sociedad Científica Española para el Estudio del Alcohol, el Alcoholismo y las otras Toxicomanías, Socidrogalcohol. Coordinador Unidad Conductas Adictivas Alcoi, Alicante
  • Carlos Roncero Health Science Faculty, European University Miguel de Cervantes (UEMC), Valladolid. Network of Research In Primary care of Addictions (RIAPAD). Psychiatric Unit, School of Medicine, University of Salamanca. Institut of Biomedicine (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20882/adicciones.2007

Keywords:

Opioid Use Disorder

Abstract

The aim of the FOLIPRO study was to determine the satisfaction and expectations of healthcare professionals with experience in opioid use disorders (OUD) with prolonged-release buprenorphine (PRB). FOLIPRO was designed as an anonymous, cross-sectional, multicenter survey aimed at professionals from addiction centers (AC) and penitentiary centers in Spain. The survey collected characteristics of the AC and the healthcare professionals. Possible barriers associated with the prescription of PRB in OUD treatment were also identified. Seventy-four questionnaires were received from 45 different centers. More than half of the centers, 51.1%, were outpatient methadone (MTD) dispensing centers and 31.1% were penitentiary centers. 68.5% of the participants had experience with PRB, which exceeded 6 months in 58.3% of the cases. 31.5% stated that they had no experience, 40% of them mainly due to reimbursement criteria for PRB. Regarding prescribing/administration issues, professionals reported greater satisfaction with PRB compared to MTD and buprenorphine/naloxone (SL-BPN/NX). According to healthcare professionals, bureaucracy, lack of knowledge of some prescribers, and patient refusal due to fear of opioid withdrawal were the main barriers described in for prescribing PRB. The results of the study show high satisfaction among healthcare professionals with PRB, positioning PRB as a valuable treatment option.

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Published

2025-03-25

Issue

Vol. 37 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Originals