RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Postoperative opioid-prescribing patterns among surgeons and residents at university-affiliated hospitals: a survey study
JF Canadian Journal of Surgery
JO CAN J SURG
FD Canadian Medical Association
SP E1
OP E8
DO 10.1503/cjs.016518
VO 63
IS 1
A1 Akash Goel
A1 Adina Feinberg
A1 Brandon McGuiness
A1 Sav Brar
A1 Sanjho Srikandarajah
A1 Emily Pearsall
A1 Robin McLeod
A1 Hance Clarke
YR 2020
UL http://canjsurg.ca/content/63/1/E1.abstract
AB Background: Overprescribing of opioids to patients following surgery is a public health concern, as unused pills may be diverted and contribute to opioid misuse and dependence. The objectives of this study were to determine current opioid-prescribing patterns for common surgical procedures, factors that affect surgeons’ prescribing behaviour and their perceived ability to manage patients with opioid use disorder.Methods: Survey participants included all consultant and trainee surgeons at the University of Toronto. The survey, which was administered electronically, included 52 multiple-choice, rank-order and open-text questions eliciting information on current prescribing patterns, prescribing of adjunct pain medications, and education and other factors related to opioid prescribing. Staff surgeons were also asked about how they manage patients with a suspected opioid issue.Results: Eighty surgical trainees and 40 staff surgeons responded to the survey (response rate 32%). Five staff surgeons (12%) felt adequately educated to prescribe pain medications (including opioids) at discharge. Staff surgeons prescribed Tylenol 3 more frequently than other opioids. Twenty (51%) of 39 staff surgeons reported that they sought further help for their patients when an opioid use disorder was suspected.Conclusion: Our results support existing studies showing a large degree of variability in postoperative opioid prescribing. Institutional guidelines have been shown to be effective in curbing excessive opioid prescribing without increasing unnecessary emergency department visits for uncontrolled pain. Thus, there is an opportunity to develop institutional guidelines to educate surgical teams in the prescribing of opioids and about services available for patients with a substance use disorder.