Impact of an Educational Intervention on the Opioid Knowledge and Prescribing Behaviors of Resident Physicians

Abstract

Objectives: The opioid epidemic is a multifactorial issue, which includes pain mismanagement. Resident physician education is essential in addressing this issue. We aimed to analyze the effects of an educational intervention on the knowledge and potential prescribing habits of emergency medicine (EM), general surgery (GS), and internal medicine residents (IM). Methods: Resident physicians were provided with educational materials and were given pre-tests and post-tests to complete. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze pre-test and post-test responses. Chi-squared analysis was used to identify changes between the pre-tests and post-tests. A p < 0.05 value was considered statistically significant. Results: Following the educational intervention, we observed improvement in correct prescribing habits for acute migraine management among emergency medicine residents (from 14.8% to 38.5%). Among general surgery residents, there was a significant improvement in adherence to narcotic amounts determined by recent studies for sleeve gastrectomy (p= 0.01) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (p= 0.002). Additionally, we observed a decrease in the number of residents who would use opioids as a first-line treatment for migraines, arthritic joint pain, and nephrolithiasis. Discussion: Resident physicians have an essential role in combating the opioid epidemic. There was a significant improvement in various aspects of opioid-related pain management among emergency medicine, internal medicine, and general surgery residents following the educational interventions. We recommend that medical school and residency programs consider including opioid-related pain management in their curricula.

Variability in Opioid Prescribing Among Plastic Surgery Residents After Bilateral Breast Reduction

“…Importantly, few surgical residents are receiving opioid prescribing education despite evidence that opioid-related pain management curricula are effective. [46][47][48][49] Opioid-specific prescription training has been associated with lower opioid prescriptions among surgical trainees. However, in the absence of such training, it should be unsurprising that prescribing patterns of surgical trainees are variable and excessive.…”

“…Opioid prescribing variability and excessive prescriptions found among plastic surgery residents are reflective of poor communication with attending surgeons about opioid prescriptions, inadequate education, and little oversight. Importantly, few surgical residents are receiving opioid prescribing education despite evidence that opioid-related pain management curricula are effective 46–49 . Opioid-specific prescription training has been associated with lower opioid prescriptions among surgical trainees.…”