Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34437639›Full record

ArticlePloS one2021

The potential for diversion of prescribed opioids among orthopaedic patients: Results of an anonymous patient survey.

Kala Sundararajan, Prabjit Ajrawat, Mayilee Canizares, J Denise Power, Anthony V Perruccio, Angela Sarro, Luis Montoya, Y Raja Rampersaud, University Health Network Division of Orthopaedic Surgery

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
1.0field-weighted citation impact, top 23% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Kala SundararajanDivision of Orthopaedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-5788-5645
Prabjit AjrawatDepartment of Surgery, Division of Orthopaedics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Mayilee CanizaresDivision of Orthopaedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-5532-9423
J Denise PowerDivision of Orthopaedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Anthony V PerruccioDivision of Orthopaedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Angela SarroDivision of Orthopaedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Luis MontoyaDivision of Orthopaedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Y Raja RampersaudDivision of Orthopaedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
University Health Network Division of Orthopaedic Surgery
University Health Network · CAUniversity of Toronto · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionDiversion of prescription opioid medication is a contributor to the opioid epidemic. Safe handling practices can reduce the risk of diversion. We aimed to understand: 1) if orthopaedic patients received instructions on how to safely handle opioids, 2) their typical storage/disposal practices, and 3) their willingness to participate in an opioid disposal program (ODP).

methodsCross-sectional study of adult orthopaedic patients who completed an anonymous survey on current or past prescription opioid use, instruction on handling, storage and disposal practices, presence of children in the household, and willingness to participate in an ODP. Frequencies and percentages of responses were computed, both overall and stratified by possession of unused opioids.

results569 respondents who reported either current or past prescription opioid use were analyzed. 44% reported receiving storage instructions and 56% reported receiving disposal instructions from a health care provider. Many respondents indicated unsafe handling practices: possessing unused opioids (34%), using unsafe storage methods (90%), and using unsafe disposal methods (34%). Respondents with unused opioids were less likely to report receiving handling instructions or using safe handling methods, and 47% of this group reported having minors or young adults in the household. Respondents who received storage and disposal instructions were more likely to report safe storage and disposal methods. Seventy-four percent of respondents reported that they would participate in an ODP.

conclusionWhile many orthopaedic patients report inadequate education on safe opioid handling and using unsafe handling practices, findings suggest targeted education is associated with better behaviours. However, patients are willing to safely dispose of unused medication if provided a convenient option. These findings suggest a need to address patient knowledge and behavior regarding opioid handling to reduce the risk of opioid diversion.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultAgedAnalgesics, OpioidDrug PrescriptionsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOpioid EpidemicOpioid-Related DisordersOrthopedicsPostoperative PainPrescription Drug DiversionSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultAnalgesics, Opioid

Identifiers

PMID34437639
PMCPMC8389484
OpenAlexW3194795644

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.