Effectiveness of interventions on the appropriate use of opioids for noncancer pain among hospital inpatients: A systematic review

Abstract

Aims: To summarise the effectiveness of interventions on appropriate opioid use for noncancer pain among hospital inpatients. Methods: Two reviewers independently searched 6 databases up to March 2018 original research articles reporting on quantitative outcomes of interventions on appropriate opioid use among hospital inpatients. Appropriate opioid use was measured by changes in prescribing, such as the lowest effective opioid dose and duration, or clinical outcomes such as adequate pain control. Quality and intervention complexity assessments were performed by 2 independent reviewers. The full methodological approach was published on PROSPERO (ID: CRD42019145947). Results: Of 398 full-text articles assessed for eligibility, 37 articles were included in the review. Most articles had a moderate or high risk of bias (27 of 37 studies). Thirty-one articles primarily addressed appropriate opioid use and 6 articles targeted opioid safety as a secondary outcome. A multifaceted approach was the most common primary intervention (16 studies) and adequate pain control was the main outcome measured (14 studies). Health provider education, reinforced by hard-copy material and feedback, was associated with a 13.0 to 29.5% increase in the proportion of opioid prescriptions written in concordance with local guidelines and reduced pain scores ranging from 7.0 to 34.5%. Interventions to improve opioid safety in patient-controlled analgesia reduced medication errors by up to 89.1%. Conclusion: Interventions involving academic detailing and education, especially when reinforced by feedback, show positive effects on appropriate opioid use among hospital inpatients. Future studies investigating the impact of administrative interventions on opioid use and related outcomes are warranted.