Amy E. Lawrence|Alex J. Carsel|Karen Leonhart|Holden Richards|Calista M. Harbaugh|Jennifer F. Waljee|Daryl J. McLeod|Patrick C. Walz|Peter C. Minneci|Katherine J. Deans|Jennifer N. Cooper
Effect of Drug Disposal Bag Provision on Proper Disposal of Unused Opioids by Families of Pediatric Surgical Patients
Nationwide Children's Hospital|Nationwide Children's Hospital|Nationwide Children's Hospital|Nationwide Children's Hospital|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|The Ohio State University|Nationwide Children's Hospital|The Ohio State University|The Ohio State University|Nationwide Children's Hospital|The Ohio State University|Nationwide Children's Hospital|Nationwide Children's Hospital|The Ohio State University
h3importanceh3 although opioids important component pain management children recovering surgery postoperative opioid prescribing contributed current opioid crisis united states medications often prescribed excess rarely properly disposed one potential strategy combat opioid misuse remove excess postoperative opioids circulation providing patients drug disposal products enable safe disposal opioids home garbage h3objectiveh3 determine whether provision drug disposal bag increases proper opioid disposal among families pediatric patients undergoing ambulatory surgery h3design setting participantsh3 randomized clinical trial enrolled 202 parents guardians children 1 17 years age underwent otolaryngologic urologic surgery outpatient surgery centers tertiary childrens hospital columbus ohio june december 2018 received opioid prescription prior discharge h3interventionsh3 families randomized intervention provided drug disposal bag containing activated charcoal instructions use plus standard postoperative discharge instructions opioid use storage disposal families standard care arm received standard postoperative discharge instructions participants completed baseline survey followup survey 2 4 weeks postoperatively h3main outcomes measuresh3 primary outcome proper opioid disposal defined disposal using drug disposal bag disposal method recommended us food drug administration h3resultsh3 202 parents guardians enrolled 181 completed followup 92 intervention arm 89 standard care arm patients groups white 75 735 vs 79 806 male 63 612 vs 54 546 median interquartile range age 6 59 years intervention arm 7 610 years standard care arm intentiontotreat analyses 92 families receiving disposal bag 89 families receiving disposal bag included among 66 families 717 randomized receive disposal bag reported properly disposing childs opioids whereas 50 parents 562 receive disposal bag reported proper opioid disposal difference proportions 155 95 ci 17293ipi 03 among families filled opioid prescription leftover opioids resolution childs pain 66 77 parents guardians 857 received disposal bag 50 77 parents guardians 649 received standard care reported properly disposing childs opioids difference proportions 208 95 ci 76340 h3conclusions relevanceh3 results study indicated providing drug disposal bags families children receiving postoperative opioids increased likelihood excess opioid disposal greater availability disposal products may complement ongoing prescribing reduction efforts aimed decreasing opioid misuse h3trial registrationh3 clinicaltrialsgov identifiernct03575377