Can Simplified and More Detailed Instructions Affect Post-Operative Narcotic Consumption
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Trial end date:
2024-09-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This project intends to investigate whether (1) a patient-maintained opioid diary provides an
accurate measure of opioid consumption (morphine equivalents), (2) improved patient
educational materials decrease narcotic consumption, and (3) using a pain management
counselor provides additional benefits in decreasing narcotic consumption when used in
conjunction with improved educational materials. Furthermore, the investigators would like to
investigate the effect of the patient-maintained diaries, the improved educational materials,
and the pain management counselor on pain levels, nausea, sleep quality, and patient
satisfaction.
All patients undergoing orthopedic surgery at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital and
choose to participate will be assigned to a treatment group based on which arm of the study
is being tested at the time; (the treatment arms are sequential). Members of Group 1 (control
group) will receive the current standardized institutional discharge care for orthopedic
surgery and an added tracking diary. Members of Group 2 (experimental group 1) will receive
more detailed educational materials regarding postoperative pain management - including
instructions to how to taper their narcotic usage - as well as a tracking diary. Members of
Group 3 (experimental group 2) will receive not only the educational materials of Group 2,
but also weekly phone calls from a clinical patient educator to remind them of proper use of
the diary and narcotic tapering.