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Research Article|Articles in Press

Recruiting hand therapists improves disposal of unused opioid medication

      Highlights

      • An educational brochure improves disposal rates of unused opioids after upper extremity surgery.
      • Recruiting hand therapists in brochure distribution further increases opioid disposal rates.
      • Brochure administration is more effective when coupled an active discussion of opioid use.
      • Older age is associated with higher rates of opioid disposal.

      Abstract

      Background

      Opioids often remain unused after upper extremity surgery, and leftover prescriptions are frequently diverted. When administered in a hand surgery clinic, an educational brochure outlining a simple method of opioid disposal has been shown to improve disposal rates after surgery.

      Purpose

      To understand whether administration of an opioid disposal educational brochure in a hand therapy clinic would increase opioid disposal rates, compared to a hand surgery clinic.

      Study Design

      Prospective cohort study.

      Methods

      Patients who presented to a hand therapy clinic postoperatively were recruited to participate in this prospective cohort study. An educational brochure outlining a simple method of opioid disposal was made available at the hand therapy and surgery clinics. A questionnaire was later issued to obtain: location of brochure receipt, demographic information, pre- and post-operative opioid use history, and opioid disposal patterns. Chi-square tests and multivariable binary logistic regression assessed associations between medication disposal and explanatory variables.

      Results

      Patients who received the brochure were significantly more likely to dispose of excess opioid medication, compared to those who did not receive the brochure (57.1% vs 10.8%, p < .001). Patients who received the brochure at the hand therapy clinic were significantly more likely to dispose of excess opioids (86.4%) compared to those who received the brochure at the surgery clinic (25.0%). Older age was predictive of increased disposal (p =.028*). There were no significant associations between gender, length of follow-up, or surgery type with the incidence of opioid disposal.

      Conclusion

      Recruiting both hand therapists and surgeons in the distribution of a simple, educational brochure on opioid disposal can increase disposal rates. Patients who received the brochure from the hand therapist were more likely to dispose of excess opioids. The longstanding patient-therapist relationship creates an opportunity for educational initiatives and discussion of stigmatized topics, such as opioid use.

      Keywords

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