Diplomate Spotlight Opening Doors with Board Certification: A Conversation with Long Standing Diplomate Joseph Cook Read Opening Doors with Board Certification: A Conversation with Long Standing Diplomate Joseph Cook
Phoenix Newsletter - July 2025 Available Now: 2026 5-Year Cycle Registration Read Available Now: 2026 5-Year Cycle Registration
Home Research Research Library Practice Predictors of Buprenorphine Prescribing by Family Physicians Practice Predictors of Buprenorphine Prescribing by Family Physicians 2020 Topic(s) What Family Physicians Do INTRODUCTION: Both opioid use disorder and mortality for opioid overdoses are increasing. Family physicians (FPs) can treat opioid use disorder if they are waivered to prescribe buprenorphine. Our objective was to determine personal, practice, and community characteristics associated with FPs prescribing buprenorphine. METHODS: We used data from the 2017 and 2018 American Board of Family Medicine examination registration questionnaire. The questionnaire asked about current prescribing of buprenorphine, as well as about practice size, organization, and location. Logistic regression was used to determine associations between buprenorphine treatment and individual, practice, and county characteristics. RESULTS: The questionnaire had a 100% response rate. After excluding FPs in noncontinuity practices and those who could not be linked to a US county, our final sample was 2726. Only 161 (5.9%) prescribed buprenorphine. Practice in a Federal Qualified Health Center (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 1.98 (95% CI, 1.08, 3.63)), in solo practice (aOR = 2.60 (1.38, 4.92)), or with a mental health professional (aOR = 2.70 (1.73, 4.22)) were positively associated with prescribing buprenorphine. Practice in a rural county or in a whole county mental health professional shortage area were not associated with buprenorphine prescribing. DISCUSSION: Few FPs prescribed buprenorphine, but those in practice settings with supporting mental health services were more likely to prescribe. With their training in the biopsychosocial model and a more even distribution across the rural continuum, FPs are perfectly situated to meet the increasing need for medication-assisted treatment. However, ensuring they have supporting mental health services will be central to having more FPs provide medication-assisted treatment. Read More ABFM Research Read all 2014 Trends in Family Physicians Performing Deliveries, 2003-2010 Go to Trends in Family Physicians Performing Deliveries, 2003-2010 2013 The role of family physicians in mental health care delivery in the United States: implications for health reform Go to The role of family physicians in mental health care delivery in the United States: implications for health reform 2015 Family physicians’ scope of practice and American Board of Family Medicine recertification examination performance Go to Family physicians’ scope of practice and American Board of Family Medicine recertification examination performance 2020 Taking a Closer Look at Mental Health Treatment Differences: Effectiveness of Mental Health Treatment by Provider Type in Racial and Ethnic Minorities Go to Taking a Closer Look at Mental Health Treatment Differences: Effectiveness of Mental Health Treatment by Provider Type in Racial and Ethnic Minorities
ABFM Research Read all 2014 Trends in Family Physicians Performing Deliveries, 2003-2010 Go to Trends in Family Physicians Performing Deliveries, 2003-2010 2013 The role of family physicians in mental health care delivery in the United States: implications for health reform Go to The role of family physicians in mental health care delivery in the United States: implications for health reform 2015 Family physicians’ scope of practice and American Board of Family Medicine recertification examination performance Go to Family physicians’ scope of practice and American Board of Family Medicine recertification examination performance 2020 Taking a Closer Look at Mental Health Treatment Differences: Effectiveness of Mental Health Treatment by Provider Type in Racial and Ethnic Minorities Go to Taking a Closer Look at Mental Health Treatment Differences: Effectiveness of Mental Health Treatment by Provider Type in Racial and Ethnic Minorities
2014 Trends in Family Physicians Performing Deliveries, 2003-2010 Go to Trends in Family Physicians Performing Deliveries, 2003-2010
2013 The role of family physicians in mental health care delivery in the United States: implications for health reform Go to The role of family physicians in mental health care delivery in the United States: implications for health reform
2015 Family physicians’ scope of practice and American Board of Family Medicine recertification examination performance Go to Family physicians’ scope of practice and American Board of Family Medicine recertification examination performance
2020 Taking a Closer Look at Mental Health Treatment Differences: Effectiveness of Mental Health Treatment by Provider Type in Racial and Ethnic Minorities Go to Taking a Closer Look at Mental Health Treatment Differences: Effectiveness of Mental Health Treatment by Provider Type in Racial and Ethnic Minorities