Table 2 Multiple logistic regression results for probability of PSS initiation: May 2020–August 2021

Study month

0.97

(0.96, 0.99)

Network characteristics

 Percentage of connected physicians that prescribed PSS prior months

  None

Reference

  10% or less

1.77

(1.39, 2.25)

   > 10 to 20%

2.42

(1.97, 2.96)

   > 20%

3.79

(3.15, 4.56)

 Percentage of connected physicians that are also connected

1.00

(0.99, 1.00)

 Number of other prescribers their average clients received prescription dispensations from

1.38

(1.25, 1.52)

Practice characteristics

 Primary health authority practice location

  Interior

Reference

  Fraser

0.78

(0.63, 0.96)

  Vancouver Coastal

1.31

(1.08, 1.59)

  Vancouver Island

1.06

(0.86, 1.31)

  Northern

1.30

(1.00, 1.70)

  Unknown

0.61

(0.27, 1.37)

 Prescriber speciality

  General practice

Reference

  Nurse practitioner

1.84

(1.42, 2.38)

  Psychiatry

1.41

(1.10, 1.80)

  Known but other specialties

1.46

(1.01, 2.12)

  Unknown (physician)

0.47

(0.35, 0.62)

 OAT prescriber

3.35

(2.84, 3.95)

SUD prescribing history

 Years since first billing record for a client with SUD/OUD

   < 4.5 years

Reference

  4.5 to < 10.9 years

0.74

(0.62, 0.89)

  10.9 to < 22.4 years

0.74

(0.62, 0.89)

   ≥ 22.4 years

0.59

(0.49, 0.71)

SUD client caseload

 Number of SUD clients in the past 30 days

  2 or less clients

Reference

  3 to 6 clients

1.56

(1.15, 2.10)

  13 to 7 clients

2.11

(1.53, 2.91)

  14 or more clients

4.30

(3.13, 5.90)

 Treated a client with a COVID-19 diagnosis

1.50

(1.14, 1.99)

 Percentage of clients aged 40 or over

1.00

(0.99, 1.00)

 Percent SUD/OUD clients with a CCI over 1

1.00

(0.99, 1.00)

 Percentage of clients prescribed benzodiazepines

0.99

(0.99, 1.00)

 Percentage of clients accessing social assistance during follow-up

1.02

(1.01, 1.02)

 Percentage of clients experienced an overdose in the past 12 months

1.01

(1.00, 1.01)