TY - JOUR
T1 - Dispose with dish soap
T2 - A simple and convenient method to increase proper opioid disposal in postoperative pediatric patients
AU - Keane, Alexandra M.
AU - Larson, Ellen L.
AU - Payne, Rachael M.
AU - Cooke, Samantha
AU - Zubovic, Ema
AU - Patel, Kamlesh B.
AU - Mackinnon, Susan E.
AU - Snyder-Warwick, Alison K.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2022/10
Y1 - 2022/10
N2 - Background: The opioid abuse crisis is rampant in the United States. Children and adolescents are unique risk groups in this crisis; age-specific concerns include accidental ingestion and association with high-risk behaviors. Studies aimed at disposal are limited in pediatric patients. Our study aimed to determine whether an educational brochure detailing a simple opioid disposal method using dish soap could enhance disposal in postoperative pediatric patients. Methods: A prospective survey study of pediatric plastic surgery patients at the St. Louis Children's Hospital was performed from January to December 2020. Patients were assigned into two groups: those who received the educational brochure at the time of surgery and those who did not. In clinic, patient caretakers completed anonymous preoperative and/or postoperative surveys regarding opioid use and disposal. Results: Surveys of 326 patients were analyzed (188 preoperative, 120 pre/postoperative, and 18 postoperative). Prescribed opioids were all consumed in 19% of patients. Receiving the educational brochure significantly increased the opioid disposal of leftover medications: 78% versus 35% (OR 6.52, 95% CI [2.03, 21.37], p < 0.001). Although not statistically significant owing to small sample size (p = 0.09), 71.4% of families with excess opioids in the home preoperatively retained unused postoperative opioids versus 31.6% without preoperative opioids. Conclusions: Postoperative opioids are overprescribed for most pediatric plastic surgery patients. A simple brochure significantly increases proper postoperative opioid disposal, representing a cost-effective, convenient, risk-free method to decrease opioid misuse and accumulation in our communities.
AB - Background: The opioid abuse crisis is rampant in the United States. Children and adolescents are unique risk groups in this crisis; age-specific concerns include accidental ingestion and association with high-risk behaviors. Studies aimed at disposal are limited in pediatric patients. Our study aimed to determine whether an educational brochure detailing a simple opioid disposal method using dish soap could enhance disposal in postoperative pediatric patients. Methods: A prospective survey study of pediatric plastic surgery patients at the St. Louis Children's Hospital was performed from January to December 2020. Patients were assigned into two groups: those who received the educational brochure at the time of surgery and those who did not. In clinic, patient caretakers completed anonymous preoperative and/or postoperative surveys regarding opioid use and disposal. Results: Surveys of 326 patients were analyzed (188 preoperative, 120 pre/postoperative, and 18 postoperative). Prescribed opioids were all consumed in 19% of patients. Receiving the educational brochure significantly increased the opioid disposal of leftover medications: 78% versus 35% (OR 6.52, 95% CI [2.03, 21.37], p < 0.001). Although not statistically significant owing to small sample size (p = 0.09), 71.4% of families with excess opioids in the home preoperatively retained unused postoperative opioids versus 31.6% without preoperative opioids. Conclusions: Postoperative opioids are overprescribed for most pediatric plastic surgery patients. A simple brochure significantly increases proper postoperative opioid disposal, representing a cost-effective, convenient, risk-free method to decrease opioid misuse and accumulation in our communities.
KW - Opioid disposal
KW - Opioid safety
KW - Opioids
KW - Pediatric surgery
KW - Pediatrics
KW - Plastic surgery
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85136301564&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.bjps.2022.06.064
DO - 10.1016/j.bjps.2022.06.064
M3 - Article
C2 - 35995677
AN - SCOPUS:85136301564
SN - 1748-6815
VL - 75
SP - 3845
EP - 3852
JO - Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
JF - Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
IS - 10
ER -