Barriers to management of opioid withdrawal in hospitals in England: a document analysis of hospital policies on the management of substance dependence.

ABSTRACT:

Background

People who use illicit opioids are more likely to be admitted to hospital than people of the same age in the general population. Many admissions end in discharge against medical advice, which is associated with readmission and all-cause mortality. Opioid withdrawal contributes to premature discharge. We sought to understand the barriers to timely provision of opioid substitution therapy (OST), which helps to prevent opioid withdrawal, in acute hospitals in England.

Methods

We requested policies on substance dependence management from 135 National Health Service trusts, which manage acute hospitals in England, and conducted a document content analysis. Additionally, we reviewed an Omitted and Delayed Medicines Tool (ODMT), one resource used to inform critical medic

SUBMITTER: Harris M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9007696 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature