Post-operative opioid analgesic prescribing patterns in gynecologic oncology patients following the implementation of a statewide prescription monitoring and reporting system

Molly Potter; Christopher M. Morosky, MD; Bradford P. Whitcomb, MD

doi:10.5055/jom.2022.0714

Authors

Molly Potter https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0188-5934
Christopher M. Morosky, MD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6925-9019
Bradford P. Whitcomb, MD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8337-4216

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2022.0714

Keywords:

opioid prescribing, post-operative pain management, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the effect of the Connecticut Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System (CPMRS) on the number of opioid tablets prescribed to gynecologic oncology patients post-operatively.

Design/participants: This was a retrospective chart review of patients who received surgery for suspicious masses, premalignant, or malignant conditions of uterus, tubes, ovaries, or cervix. Charts were divided into two groups before and after the implementation of an updated prescription monitoring system in July 2016. Quantitative data were collected on the number of opioids prescribed from hospital discharge summaries. Qualitative data included prescription and/or recommendation of nonopioid analgesics and type of procedure (open versus minimally invasive). Demographic information included age, ethnicity, and insurance coverage.

Outcomes: We identified a statistically significant, 50 percent decrease in opioid tablets in the After July 2016 group (n = 226) compared with the Before July 2016 group (n = 136) (p < 0.001). As anticipated, fewer opioid tablets were prescribed following minimally invasive procedures compared to open cases (p = 0.007). On examining nonopioid analgesic data, we found more patients received a prescription for nonopioid analgesics in the After July 2016 group compared with the Before July 2016 group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: This study confirms a decrease in opioid tablets prescribed to postoperative gynecologic oncology patients since July 2016. This difference cannot be attributed to the implementation of the CPMRS alone, but chronologically relates to updated requirements. Additionally, our results re-emphasize that minimally invasive surgery has a reduced number of prescribed opioids. A multi-institutional study is required with more patients to detail the factors involved in further decreasing opioid prescribing.

Author Biographies

Molly Potter

Farmington, Connecticut

Christopher M. Morosky, MD

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut

Bradford P. Whitcomb, MD

Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut

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