Use of Outpatient Opioids Prescribed From a Pediatric Acute Care Setting.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2022
Identifier
DOI: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000002731
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Deaths due to prescription opioid overdoses are at record high levels. Limiting the amount of opioid prescribed has been suggested as a prevention strategy, but little is known about how much is needed to adequately treat acutely painful conditions for outpatients. The purpose of this study was to quantify the usage of opioids prescribed from the pediatric emergency departments of a Midwestern tertiary care children's hospital system.
METHODS: This was a prospective descriptive study in which patients aged 0 to 17 years seen in 2 pediatric emergency departments who received a prescription for an outpatient opioid were enrolled. The main outcome was opioid doses used at home, which was obtained via phone follow-up. Additional information, including patient demographics, location, prescriber specialty, diagnosis, and opioid name and amount prescribed, was obtained via chart review.
RESULTS: A total of 295 patients were enrolled, with 281 completing the study (95%). The median numbers of opioid doses prescribed and used were 12 and 2 doses, respectively, with 9 doses in excess. Patients with lower extremity fractures used more opioids than other diagnoses, with a median of 8 doses. The majority of families reported keeping extra doses at home.
CONCLUSIONS: Prescribed opioid doses exceeded used doses by a factor of 6. Lower extremity fractures required more doses than other acutely painful conditions. We should consider limiting doses prescribed to decrease excess opioids available for misuse and abuse.
Journal Title
Pediatric emergency care
Volume
38
Issue
6
First Page
1298
Last Page
1303
MeSH Keywords
Analgesics, Opioid; Child; Fractures, Bone; Humans; Outpatients; Pain; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Prospective Studies
Keywords
Opioid Analgesics; Bone Fractures; Outpatients; Pain; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Prospective Studies
Recommended Citation
DePhillips M, Watts J, Sample J, Dowd MD. Use of Outpatient Opioids Prescribed From a Pediatric Acute Care Setting. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2022;38(6):e1298-e1303. doi:10.1097/PEC.0000000000002731
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