Assessing Perceived Quality of Care With Differing Pain Management Protocols After Outpatient Otolaryngology Procedures

It is routine practice to give analgesic medication after any surgical procedure to provide adequate pain control for patients. However with the increase in abuse of opioid prescription medications, physicians have given a new emphasis to different pain regimens that aim to limit the use of opioid medications. The investigator's previous clinical trial demonstrated that for patients undergoing outpatient otolaryngology procedures, not only does Ibuprofen provide equally effective analgesia compared to opioid medication but it can also decrease overall opioid requirement.

In the current proposed study, the investigators wish to build on previous work. The investigators hypothesize that with the addition of Acetaminophen to Ibuprofen, patients undergoing outpatient otolaryngology procedures may not require opioid analgesia at all. While numerous studies corroborate these results, there is little information about patients' satisfaction with their care in light of a shifting emphasis on decreasing opioid prescription. The primary goal of the current study is to better understand patients' perception of care and level of satisfaction when given opioid versus non-opioid postoperative analgesia. If there is conflicting data with regards to patients reporting adequate pain control but poor satisfaction, then perhaps further public health intervention may be necessary to provide additional patient education to help re-establish appropriate and safe patient expectations for postsurgical analgesia.