N/A
N=711
Efficiency And Quality In Post-Surgical Pain Therapy After Discharge
Opioid Use · Opioid Dependence · Opioid Misuse · Post-Surgical Complication
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05221866 ↗Enrolled (actual)
711
Serious AEs
6.9%
Results posted
Jul 2025
Primary outcome: Primary: Cumulative Weekly Opioid Intake After Discharge — 30; 30; 20; 10 Morphine milligram equivalents
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- N/A
- Interventions
- Empowering Patient to Steer Their Pain Management After Surgery (Behavioral); Provider-facing Prescription Aid (Behavioral)
- Age
- Adult, Older Adult · 19+ yrs
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- University of Nebraska
- Primary completion
- Dec 2023
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Cumulative Weekly Opioid Intake After Discharge |
30; 30; 20; 10 | — |
| SECONDARY Pain Assessment-Pain Intensity |
52.5; 51.24; 52.51; 51.29 | — |
| SECONDARY Pain Assessment-Pain Interference |
55.28; 54.17; 55.13; 53.43 | — |
| SECONDARY Opioid Prescription Amount in Morphine Milligram Equivalents on Day of Discharge |
90; 77.5; 75.0; 75.0 | — |
| SECONDARY Number of Participants With Opioids Prescribed From "Day of Discharge + 1" Until 28 Days After Discharge |
23; 21; 31; 25 | — |
| SECONDARY Number of Participants Who Disposed of Opioids |
3; 2; 3; 6 | — |
Summary
Following inpatient surgery, more than 80% of patients are prescribed opioids for use after discharge, yet up to 90% of patients report leftover opioids, and only 16% maximize non-opioid therapy. The proposed study seeks to test a provider-facing decision support tool and a participant-facing smartphone app to reduce the amount of opioids prescribed and taken following discharge, while ensuring effective treatment of pain after surgery. Adult participants with smart phones having had inpatient surgery requiring at least over-night hospitalization with anticipated discharge to home will be randomized to one of the two groups. Study measurements will include self-reported cumulative amounts of opioids taken after discharge, non-opioid analgesic taken, prescribed post-discharge opioid doses in morphine milligram equivalents (MME), pain intensity and pain interference scores (PROMIS), need for additional opioid prescriptions within one-month post-discharge, as well as any self-reported disposal of leftover medications.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- 19-89 years old
- Access to a smartphone (iOS or Android)
- Inpatient surgery requiring at least over-night hospitalization and anticipated discharge to home
Exclusion Criteria
- Re-hospitalization within 30 days
- Pregnant
- Unable to read the English language
- Discharge to a post-acute care facility
- Contraindications to opioids, acetaminophen, or NSAIDs
- Long-term opioid therapy (AHRQ definition - opioid use on most days >3 months) prior to surgery
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05221866). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.