Abstract
Aims
The purpose of the pilot study was to determine if an educational program on opioid
safety and disposal during a preoperative joint replacement class would increase the
frequency of disposal of unused opioids with a disposal pouch at the end of the episode
of care in patients undergoing joint replacement. A secondary aim was to quantify
the milligrams of morphine equivalents prescribed, used, disposed, and remaining in
joint replacement patients.
Design
The study design is quasi-experimental.
Methods
A medication disposal pouch was provided to all study subjects preoperatively. A 2-minute
opioid safety and disposal instruction and demonstration of the use of the disposal
pouch was performed at a weekly preoperative joint replacement class which was optional
for subjects to attend. A nine-question phone survey was then administered to subjects
postoperatively.
Results
One hundred and four patients completed the study survey. Of the subjects who attended
the class and had opioids remaining, 74% disposed of their opioids compared with 36%
that did not attend the class (p = .005).
Conclusions
Provision of a disposal pouch in combination with a live educational program on opioid
safety and disposal increased the rate of disposal of unused opioids in a postoperative
population.
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: February 16, 2021
Accepted:
January 12,
2021
Received in revised form:
January 8,
2021
Received:
August 23,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
