People Dispensed a 'Strong' Opioid for 6 Weeks or More
Identifying Attributes
Care Settings
Primary Care
Country
New Zealand
Publishing Organisation
Health Quality & Safety Commission
Type of Quality Indicator
Process
IOM Quality Dimension
Safety
Domain
Medications and Medication Management
Defining Attributes
Definition
This indicator shows the number and rate per 1,000 of people who had a community pharmacy dispensing of a strong opioid for six weeks or more.
Numerator
The number of people dispensed a strong opioid for 6–12 weeks after the first dispensing
Denominator
Stats NZ resident population
Exclusions
Opioid substitution treatment was excluded by identifying people dispensed methadone every first, second or third da
Use of Risk Adjustment
No
Risk Adjustments
Stratifications
By year: 2011-2019, Ethnicity: Māori, Pacific peoples, Asian, European/Other Age (years): 0–24, 25-64, 65–79 and 80+, Sex: F, M
Collection and Reporting Attributes
Type of Data Collection
Administrative data
Data Collection Methods
Pharmaceutical Collection, Stats NZ population projections
Frequency of Data Collection
Frequency of Data Collection in Days
Reporting Methods
Reporting Frequency
Reporting Frequency in Days
Indicator Has Recommended Targets
No
Source and Reference Attributes
Technical Specifications
Link to Measurement Tools
Quality Indicator Confirmed to be Part of a Program Used to Monitor Quality and Safety of Care Among Older People at a Population-Level between 2012-2022
Yes
Assessed by the Australian Consortium for Aged Care Collaborators as Generally Containing Good Properties (Importance and Scientific Acceptability)
Yes
Australian Consortium for Aged Care Endorsed
Yes
Identified by PHARMA-Care Project
No
Upload Date
02 December 2025
Contents
Actions
Date Modified 02 December 2025