Using provider-focused education toolkits can aid enhanced recovery programs to further reduce patient exposure to opioids

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based perioperative analgesia is an important tactic for reducing patient exposure to opioids in the perioperative period and potentially preventing new persistent opioid use. STUDY DESIGN: We assessed the impact of a multifaceted optimal analgesia program implemented in the setting of a mature surgical pathway program at an academic medical center. Using existing multidisciplinary workgroups established for continuous process improvement in three surgical pathway areas ((colorectal, gynecology, and urologic oncology (cystectomy)), we developed an educational toolkit focused on implementation strategies for multimodal analgesia and non-pharmacologic approaches for managing pain with the goal of reducing opioid exposure in hospitalized patients. We analyzed prospectively collected data from pathway patients before dissemination of the toolkit (July 2016–June 2017; n = 869) and after (July 2017–June 2018; n = 838). We evaluated the association between program implementation and use of oral morphine equivalents (OME), average pain scores, time to first ambulation after surgery, urinary catheter duration, time to solid food after surgery, length of stay, discharge opioid prescriptions, and readmission. RESULTS: Multivariate regression demonstrated that the program was associated with significant decreases in intraoperative OME (14.5 ± 2.4 mEQ (milliequivalents) reduction; p < 0.0001), day before discharge OME (18 ± 6.5 mEQ reduction; p < 0.005), day of discharge OME (9.6 ± 3.28 mEQ reduction; p < 0.003), and discharge prescription OME (156 ± 22 mEq reduction; p < 0.001). Reduction in OME was associated with earlier resumption of solid food (0.58 ± 0.15 days reduction; p < 0.0002). CONCLUSION: Our multifaceted optimal analgesia program to manage perioperative pain in the hospital was effective and further improved analgesia in the setting of a mature enhanced recovery program.