Educating Patients About Opioid Disposal: A Key Role for Perianesthesia Nurses

To examine opioid prescription practices, patient use of opioids after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and patient knowledge about disposal of unused medication.

Mixed methods design with a chart review and structured phone interview.

Thirty-four patients were interviewed by phone and asked how many opioids were prescribed, how many excess pills they had 6 to 10 days postoperatively, and if they knew how to dispose of them.

Average number of excess pills ranged from 0 to 42 (mean = 14; SD = 11.7). Nearly half of patients (47%) perceived the prescribed quantity as "too many." Seventy-one percent of patients using opioids for 5 days or less and 88% did not recall any instruction about medication disposal.

Patients often have excess prescribed opioids after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and they do not understand proper disposal of unused medications. Education about proper disposal of unused opioids medications is a key role of perianesthesia.