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A prescribing guideline tailored to patients' specific needs reduced the number of opioid pills prescribed after major surgery with researchers reporting a greater than 90 percent patient satisfaction rate with pain management and the highest compliance rate to date with appropriate disposal of leftover pills.
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VIDEO: Guidelines for Patient Centered Opioid Prescribing and Optimal FDA-Compliant Disposal of Excess Pills After Inpatient Surgery: A Prospective Clinical Trial. view more
Credit: American College of Surgeons
Key takeaways
Opioid prescribing guideline is unique, taking into account each patient s perception of pain, rather than prescribing opioids based on type of operation.
Surgeons play a pivotal role in minimizing opioid use in their patients by setting expectations for pain management.
Opioid disposal rates dramatically increased because surgeons told patients about specific FDA-compliant methods for pill disposal, the location of a convenient pharmacy drop box, and made a reminder phone call.