The opioid prescribing knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Australian General Practitioners

Interventions to reduce opioid overprescribing in Australia commonly target general practitioners (GP). However, Australia’s increasing rates of opioid prescribing and opioid related harm suggest these interventions may not be targeting the true drivers of GP opioid overprescribing. This thesis identifies the self-reported prescriber, organisational and systems factors influencing GP prescribing decisions, and demonstrates that current prescribing interventions do not adequately address these drivers. This research informs the design of GP-targeted prescribing interventions that may be more effective in the real world.