A regional effort: the current landscape of inguinal hernia repair and postoperative opioid prescription practices in Eastern Ontario

Inguinal hernia repairs are commonly performed by general surgeons in academic and community centres. The optimal strategy for postoperative analgesia is evolving, particularly because of concerns over opioid prescribing given the current opioid crisis. Efforts to address opioid overprescribing have been emphasized in our academic hospital system. Our survey of general surgeons in Eastern Ontario shows similarities in postoperative prescriptions of nonopioid and opioid analgesics across practice environments. Importantly, awareness of opioid-reduction initiatives was similar between academic and community surgeons. This regional effort is a result of local and national communities of practice fostered by organizations such as the Canadian Association of General Surgeons.