Quantity of opioids consumed following an emergency department visit for acute pain: a Canadian prospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Prescription opioid diversion is a significant contributor to the opioid misuse epidemic. We examined the quantity of opioids consumed by emergency department (ED) discharged patients after treatment for an acute pain condition (musculoskeletal, fracture, renal colic, abdominal pain and other), and the percentage of unused opioids available for potential misuse.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary care trauma centre academic hospital.

Participants

A convenience sample of patients ≥18 years who visited the ED for an acute pain condition (≤2 weeks) and were discharged with an opioid prescription. Patients completed a 14-day paper diary of daily pain medication use. To reduce lost to follow-up, participants also responded to standardised p

SUBMITTER: Daoust R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6144484 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature