Patient Knowledge on Pain Management and Safe Opioid Use

Completed

• Conditions: Opioid Use

• Registration Number: NCT04498559
• Lead Sponsor: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine what patients currently know about opioids, including their role in pain management, side effects, risks of abuse, and proper storage and disposal. It is critical for patients to be properly informed about opioid usage in treating postoperative pain, but current gaps in patient knowledge are not well understood.

This study will help identify knowledge deficiencies and guide future patient education. Additionally, this study will examine possible patient factors that may be associated with these gaps. Evaluation of patient knowledge will be assessed through interviews conducted before patients' day of surgery.

Detailed Description

Opioids are frequently prescribed to treat pain after surgery, and while these medications may be effective analgesics they are also susceptible to misuse and addiction. There are growing concerns that prescription opioids contribute to the existing opioid supply and become potential sources for abuse1,2. In fact, opioids are often abused by those using medications not prescribed to them but obtained from friends or relatives3,4.

Many patients who undergo surgery are not given adequate information about opioids and strategies for postoperative pain management. Studies find that inadequate knowledge and inability to recall postoperative pain regimens result in poor compliance5. Many patients are also unaware of how to properly store and dispose of prescription opioids1,6 and this predisposes them to opioid misuse and improper saving and sharing of pills6.

Little is known, however, about the specific gaps in knowledge and what patient demographics may be associated with lack of understanding. As an initial step toward addressing these issues, this study seeks to identify deficiencies in patient understanding of opioids and pain management.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2020-07-24
• Study First Submitted: 2020-07-27
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-08-03
• Study First Posted: 2020-08-04
• Primary Completion: 2020-12-12
• Study Completion: 2020-12-12
• Status Verified: 2024-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-04-29
• Last Update Posted: 2024-05-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 128

Inclusion Criteria

• Age range between 18 and 80 years old
• Undergoing primary total hip replacement surgery
• English speaking

Exclusion Criteria

• Medical background (profession that involves the prescribing, dispensing, handling, or administering of opioids)
• History of chronic opioid use (continuous opioid use for 3 or more months)
• Opioid use within the past 3 months
• Non-English speakers

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Patient's knowledge about opioids based on a qualitative assessment	Prior to surgery	Patient's answers to opioid-related questions will be summarized using grounded theory, and a comparative analytic strategy to categories. A PI-provided scoring manual will also be used to quantify the accuracy and level of patients' knowledge about opioids. Reference: Berkwits M, Inui TS. Making use of qualitative research techniques. J Gen Intern Med. 1998;13(3):195-199. doi:10.1046/j.1525-1497.1998.00054.x

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Race	Prior to surgery	Is the race of the patient associated with patients' knowledge of opioids
Previous surgeries	Prior to surgery	Are previous surgeries of the patient associated with patients' knowledge of opioids
Alcohol and tobacco use	Prior to surgery	Is the alcohol and tobacco use of the patient associated with patients' knowledge of opioids
Education level	Prior to surgery	Is the education level of the patient associated with patients' knowledge of opioids
Ethnicity	Prior to surgery	Is the ethnicity of the patient associated with patients' knowledge of opioids
Previous opioid usage	Prior to surgery	Is the previous opioid usage of patient associated with patients' knowledge of opioids
Sex	Prior to surgery	Is the sex of the patient associated with patients' knowledge of opioids
Occupation	Prior to surgery	Is the occupation of the patient associated with patients' knowledge of opioids
Age	Prior to surgery	Is the age the of patient associated with patients' knowledge of opioids

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hospital for Special Surgery; 🇺🇸 New York, New York, United States