Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2025
Use of the Operant Orofacial Pain Assessment Device OPAD to Measure Changes in Nociceptive Behavior
Published on: June 10, 2013
Opioid use in pediatric otolaryngologic surgery: A survey of caregivers' attitudes
Libby M Ward1, Allyson H LaRosa2, Yash Prakash2
1Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0720-1115.
Insights
Many parents are hesitant to administer post-operative opioids to children due to addiction concerns. Understanding these caregiver attitudes is crucial for effective pediatric pain management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Pain Management
- Public Health
Background:
- The ongoing opioid epidemic necessitates careful consideration of pediatric post-operative pain management.
- Children often receive inadequate pain relief after surgical procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate caregiver attitudes regarding the use of opioids for pediatric post-operative pain.
- To identify factors influencing caregiver comfort levels with post-operative opioid administration in children.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 68 caregivers of pediatric patients undergoing otolaryngologic surgery at an academic hospital.
- The survey assessed caregiver comfort levels, influencing factors, and reasons for reluctance regarding post-operative opioid use.
Main Results:
- 38.1% of caregivers felt comfortable administering opioids, 30.2% were not, and 31.7% were unsure.
- Comfort increased with child's age; past opioid use by caregivers correlated with comfort, while employment correlated with discomfort.
- The primary concern cited for discomfort was the potential for addiction. Education, income, race, and language did not significantly impact comfort levels.
Conclusions:
- A significant portion of caregivers express uncertainty or discomfort with administering post-operative opioids to their children, primarily due to addiction fears.
- These findings underscore the need for clear communication and education from surgeons to address caregiver concerns and ensure appropriate pain management.
- Understanding diverse caregiver perspectives is vital for optimizing post-operative care and mitigating risks associated with opioid use in pediatric patients.
Objective:
Given the current opioid epidemic and the fact that children continue to be undertreated for pain following surgeries, it is important to understand care-givers' attitudes toward post-operative opioid use.
Design:
A survey was distributed to caregivers of pediatric patients undergoing otolaryngologic procedures.
Setting:
An academic hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.
Participants:
Sixty-eight caregivers completed the survey.
Main Outcome Measure:
Caregiver attitudes toward post-operative opioid use.
Results:
The study results are as follows: 38.1 percent of parents stated they would feel comfortable giving their child opioids post-operatively, 30.2 percent would not feel comfortable, and 31.7 percent were unsure. For every increase in 1 year of age of the child, there was an increase in the odds of a parent being comfortable giving opioids. Caregivers who had taken opioids in the past were more likely to feel comfortable, while those who were employed were less likely to feel comfortable. The most common reason reported for not feeling comfortable was addiction potential. The comfort level did not differ based on the caregivers' education level, income, race, or language.
Conclusion:
The majority of caregivers are unsure about or do not feel comfortable giving their child opioids post-operatively. Most are specifically concerned about the risk of addiction. Understanding caregivers' views on opioids in a diverse patient population is essential, so surgeons can counsel caregivers and provide appropriate post-operative pain management in their patients.
More Related Videos
07:11Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
Published on: February 5, 2019
06:04Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex
Published on: July 4, 2018
Related Concept Videos
01:20Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners
01:15Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
01:08Obedience
01:02Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
01:24Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview