The purpose of this study is to examine what patients currently know about opioids, including their role in pain management, side effects, risks of abuse, and proper storage and disposal. It is critical for patients to be properly informed about opioid usage in treating postoperative pain, but current gaps in patient knowledge are not well understood.

This study will help identify knowledge deficiencies and guide future patient education. Additionally, this study will examine possible patient factors that may be associated with these gaps. Evaluation of patient knowledge will be assessed through interviews conducted before patients' day of surgery.

Opioids are frequently prescribed to treat pain after surgery, and while these medications may be effective analgesics they are also susceptible to misuse and addiction. There are growing concerns that prescription opioids contribute to the existing opioid supply and become potential sources for abuse1,2. In fact, opioids are often abused by those using medications not prescribed to them but obtained from friends or relatives3,4.

Many patients who undergo surgery are not given adequate information about opioids and strategies for postoperative pain management. Studies find that inadequate knowledge and inability to recall postoperative pain regimens result in poor compliance5. Many patients are also unaware of how to properly store and dispose of prescription opioids1,6 and this predisposes them to opioid misuse and improper saving and sharing of pills6.

Little is known, however, about the specific gaps in knowledge and what patient demographics may be associated with lack of understanding. As an initial step toward addressing these issues, this study seeks to identify deficiencies in patient understanding of opioids and pain management.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age range between 18 and 80 years old
• Undergoing primary total hip replacement surgery
• English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

• Medical background (profession that involves the prescribing, dispensing, handling, or administering of opioids)
• History of chronic opioid use (continuous opioid use for 3 or more months)
• Opioid use within the past 3 months
• Non-English speakers

Patients undergoing primary total hip replacement surgery.

Individual participant data that underlie the results reported in this article, after deidentification

Beginning 3 months and ending 36 months after publication

Researchers who provide methodologically sound proposal

To achieve aims in the approved protocol

Proposals should be directed to leeb@hss.edu. Proposals may be submitted up to 36 months after article publication. To gain access, data requestors will need to sign a data access agreement.