O84: OPIOID PRESCRIPTION AT OPERATIVE DISCHARGE (OPIOID STUDY)

  Presenting Author Email: etheophilidou@gmail.com Research Question Opioid misuse is a major health epidemic. Surveys in the US have shown that over 130 patients die daily due to opioid related drug overdose with 10.3 million patients misused prescription opioids in 2018. This is the first study in the UK to explore the magnitude of the opioid crisis in our country. The opioid crisis was identified first in the US after life expectancy reduced dramatically in 2015. One of the main reasons attributed to this was the increase in the number of overdoses and suicides, both linked with the use of opioid drugs. Between 1999 and 2017 the number of deaths from opioid overdoses increased almost six fold. The 2019 National Survey on Drug use and Health in the US showed that 10.3 million patients misused prescription opioids in 2018 and 2 million patients with an opioid use disorder. Factors contributing to opioid dependence were identified as the use of modified release formulations, the use of repeat opioid prescriptions and the treatment of acute pain. Background and Aim The aim of the study is to explore the magnitude of the opioid crisis in the UK, by identifying risk factors for persistent opioid use following major general surgical intervention. Design Phase 1 of the OPiOiD study is a national retrospective audit. We are aiming to identify risk factors for persistent opioid use in patients undergoing major general surgical interventions. Specifically we will be assessing the number of patients given a duration or point of review when opioids should be stopped and whether any written information has been given to these patients on discharge regarding safe use of opioids and de-prescribing advice. 23 hospitals across the UK have registered so far. Data are collected using the electronic discharge summaries send to the GPs and copies given to patients. Phase 2 of the study will be to proceed with a national observational study with the aim to develop strategies to promote safe and effective management of acute pain. Team and infrastructure The East Midlands Surgical Academic Network (EMSAN) leads the study, supervised by Dr Roger Knaggs, Associate Professor School of Pharmacy University of Nottingham, Dr Nicholas Levy, Department of Anaesthesia and peri-operative Medicine West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and Professor Dileep Lobo, Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre National Institute for Health Research.