Addressing Safe Opioid Monitoring Practices Using an Interprofessional Approach.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient Safety
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Opioid-induced respiratory depression is a significant patient safety concern in hospitals.
• Established guidelines and tools exist for sedation and respiratory assessment and monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance clinician knowledge regarding opioids.
• To improve adherence to evidence-based interventions for sedation monitoring and assessment in adult inpatients receiving opioids.
• To reduce opioid-induced respiratory depression through an interprofessional online program.

Main Methods:

• An interprofessional team utilized process improvement methodology.
• Identified organizational drivers of opioid-induced sedation and respiratory depression.
• Developed and evaluated interventions, including an online program, assessing clinician knowledge and documentation.

Main Results:

• Clinician opioid knowledge scores significantly improved post-intervention.
• Audits demonstrated enhanced appropriate documentation of sedation scales by Registered Nurses (RNs) over two 3-month periods.

Conclusions:

• Clinicians showed increased understanding of new sedation and monitoring practices.
• The interventions were effective in preventing opioid-induced respiratory depression.