Purpose
The purpose of this study was to survey the attitudes and beliefs about opioids and
opioid prescribing policies among patients presenting to an orthopedic hand surgery
practice.
Methods
Patients (n = 118; median age, 49 years) who presented to their regularly scheduled
appointment at a major urban university medical center completed surveys assessing
their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, beliefs about prescription opioids,
beliefs about opioid prescribing policies, and perceived importance of opioid prescribing
policies in the department.
Results
Many patients were aware of potential risks of opioids (eg, 80% are aware of addictive
properties) and would support opioid prescribing policies that aim to decrease opioid
misuse and diversion. However, a small but important number of patients have concerning
beliefs about prescription opioids (eg, 28% believe opioids work well for long-term
pain) or believe that doctors should prescribe “as much medication as the patient
needs” (7%). The vast majority (98%) indicated that they would like more education
on opioids and that information about prescription opioids should be provided to all
patients in orthopedic practices. Patients with higher educational attainment reported
a greater perceived importance of opioid prescribing policies.
Conclusions
The results of this study suggest that opioid prescribing strategies that promote
safe and effective alleviation of pain and optimal opioid stewardship will be well
received by patients.
Clinical relevance
Efforts to develop and test the effects of opioid prescribing policies and nonopioid
pain relief strategies on opioid prescribing are merited.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 16, 2018
Accepted:
June 29,
2018
Received:
December 22,
2017
Footnotes
No benefits in any form have been received or will be received related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. All rights reserved.
