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Opioid-Free Anesthesia in Perioperative Care: Findings From a Swedish Web-Based Survey
Salwan Diwan1, Alexander Olausson1, Paulin Andréll2,3
1Institute of Health and Care Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Pain Research & Management
|December 1, 2025
Summary
Opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) shows promise, but adoption is limited by knowledge gaps and lack of guidelines among Swedish healthcare professionals. Education and institutional support are key to wider implementation.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Pain Management
- Healthcare Professional Education
Background:
- Opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) offers an alternative to traditional opioid-based anesthesia, reducing opioid consumption and adverse effects.
- Despite potential benefits, clinical adoption of OFA is hindered by evidence gaps and implementation challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess Swedish healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding OFA.
- To identify barriers and facilitators for broader OFA integration into routine anesthesia care.
Main Methods:
- A web-based survey was distributed to anesthesiology department heads at Swedish hospitals.
- The survey targeted anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, critical care nurses, and registered nurses involved in intraoperative care.
Main Results:
- A 35% response rate (309 HCPs) was achieved, with most respondents having extensive perioperative experience.
- A significant majority (62%) reported insufficient knowledge of OFA, and only 14% actively used it.
- High interest (85%) in OFA education was noted, alongside a lack of guidelines (87%) and a desire for their introduction (57%).
Conclusions:
- Swedish perioperative HCPs show interest in OFA but face barriers like knowledge deficits and limited guidelines.
- Targeted education and institutional support are crucial for facilitating OFA adoption and improving multimodal perioperative pain management.
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