First national survey on opioids prescribing practices of Canadian pediatric surgeons

Purpose: Prescription opioid misuse has become a public health concern globally. In Canada, little is known about the national prescription patterns in children. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the opioid prescribing practices of pediatric surgeons in Canada. Methods: Following ethical approval, an electronic questionnaire was administered to all pediatric surgeons currently practicing in Canada. Questions included surgeon practice information, patterns of opioid prescription at discharge based on the type of surgery, type of opioid prescribed, and availability of training for surgeons/families. Results: Fifty-eight questionnaires were completed (response rate: 84%) by surgeons from 8 out of 8 Canadian provinces with pediatric surgery coverage. 33% of responders prescribed opioids (most commonly morphine) for day surgeries and 73% of Pediatric Surgeons prescribed opioids for major surgeries. Most responders (84%) declared that at their institution there was no formal training for residents/fellows in pain control and opioid prescribing. Similarly, 57% reported no education for families about opioids at discharge. Conclusion: This first national survey on opioid prescribing practices across Canada reveals that opioids were prescribed to pediatric patients following a broad range of minor and major surgical procedures. Moreover, there seems to be a lack of education for surgeons and families about opioid use. Type of study: Descriptive, cross-sectional, practice survey. Level of evidence: Level 5.