Opioid use and disposal patterns of emergency department patients
Introduction: To date, there is limited literature to guide emergency providers (EPs) on the proper dosing of prescription opioids. Our study aims to assess the self-reported opioid use, storage, and disposal practices of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute pain. Methods:...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Emergencies, Trauma and Shock |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.onlinejets.org/article.asp?issn=0974-2700;year=2023;volume=16;issue=4;spage=177;epage=181;aulast=Hoerster |
| _version_ | 1797232669951524864 |
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| author | Valerie Hoerster Derek Tang Marlee Milkis Stephanie Litzenberger Jill Stoltzfus Holly Stankewicz |
| author_facet | Valerie Hoerster Derek Tang Marlee Milkis Stephanie Litzenberger Jill Stoltzfus Holly Stankewicz |
| author_sort | Valerie Hoerster |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: To date, there is limited literature to guide emergency providers (EPs) on the proper dosing of prescription opioids. Our study aims to assess the self-reported opioid use, storage, and disposal practices of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute pain. Methods: This prospective cohort study employed a validated, cross-sectional survey of subjects identified using electronic medical records. The survey link was e-mailed to a continuous sample of eligible participants 3–4 weeks following ED discharge. Nonrespondents were surveyed through telephone after 1 week. We used descriptive and nonparametric statistics to report survey results. Results: Of 500 eligible subjects, 97 completed the questionnaire. Only 28% of respondents reported that they took all of the prescribed pills. Of the remaining responses, 20% stated that they did not take any pills, 33% took about one-fourth, 7.2% took about half, and 12.4% took about three-fourths of the pills. Among those who did not take any pills, 42% filled the prescription. Most (71.2%) reported storing their leftover pills; among those who stored their pills, less than one-fourth (23.8%) used a locked storage location. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that less than one-third of patients who receive prescriptions in the ED for acute pain use all of their prescribed pills, suggesting that many patients are unnecessarily prescribed opioids for acute conditions. The findings of this study also suggest that many patients with unused prescription opioids do not practice safe storage or proper disposal of leftover pills. This represents a potential opportunity for EPs to improve medication safety by educating patients on proper storage and disposal practices. Limitations include low response rate and the use of self-reporting. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:03:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5fdeb267325e4f199c14b5e593a54770 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0974-2700 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:03:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Emergencies, Trauma and Shock |
| spelling | doaj.art-5fdeb267325e4f199c14b5e593a547702024-04-01T05:58:15ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Emergencies, Trauma and Shock0974-27002023-01-0116417718110.4103/jets.jets_55_21Opioid use and disposal patterns of emergency department patientsValerie HoersterDerek TangMarlee MilkisStephanie LitzenbergerJill StoltzfusHolly StankewiczIntroduction: To date, there is limited literature to guide emergency providers (EPs) on the proper dosing of prescription opioids. Our study aims to assess the self-reported opioid use, storage, and disposal practices of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute pain. Methods: This prospective cohort study employed a validated, cross-sectional survey of subjects identified using electronic medical records. The survey link was e-mailed to a continuous sample of eligible participants 3–4 weeks following ED discharge. Nonrespondents were surveyed through telephone after 1 week. We used descriptive and nonparametric statistics to report survey results. Results: Of 500 eligible subjects, 97 completed the questionnaire. Only 28% of respondents reported that they took all of the prescribed pills. Of the remaining responses, 20% stated that they did not take any pills, 33% took about one-fourth, 7.2% took about half, and 12.4% took about three-fourths of the pills. Among those who did not take any pills, 42% filled the prescription. Most (71.2%) reported storing their leftover pills; among those who stored their pills, less than one-fourth (23.8%) used a locked storage location. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that less than one-third of patients who receive prescriptions in the ED for acute pain use all of their prescribed pills, suggesting that many patients are unnecessarily prescribed opioids for acute conditions. The findings of this study also suggest that many patients with unused prescription opioids do not practice safe storage or proper disposal of leftover pills. This represents a potential opportunity for EPs to improve medication safety by educating patients on proper storage and disposal practices. Limitations include low response rate and the use of self-reporting.http://www.onlinejets.org/article.asp?issn=0974-2700;year=2023;volume=16;issue=4;spage=177;epage=181;aulast=Hoersteremergency departmentopioid disposalopioid prescribingopioid use |
| spellingShingle | Valerie Hoerster Derek Tang Marlee Milkis Stephanie Litzenberger Jill Stoltzfus Holly Stankewicz Opioid use and disposal patterns of emergency department patients Journal of Emergencies, Trauma and Shock emergency department opioid disposal opioid prescribing opioid use |
| title | Opioid use and disposal patterns of emergency department patients |
| title_full | Opioid use and disposal patterns of emergency department patients |
| title_fullStr | Opioid use and disposal patterns of emergency department patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Opioid use and disposal patterns of emergency department patients |
| title_short | Opioid use and disposal patterns of emergency department patients |
| title_sort | opioid use and disposal patterns of emergency department patients |
| topic | emergency department opioid disposal opioid prescribing opioid use |
| url | http://www.onlinejets.org/article.asp?issn=0974-2700;year=2023;volume=16;issue=4;spage=177;epage=181;aulast=Hoerster |
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