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Published on: January 18, 2018
Understanding Postoperative Persistent Opioid Use: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis.
Göknur Parlak1, Seçil Taylan2, Fatma Eti Aslan3
1Emergency Health Services, İstanbul Provincial Health Directorate, İstanbul, Turkey.
Summary
Patients use opioids after surgery not only for pain but also to regain function and return to daily life. Understanding these subjective experiences is key to preventing persistent opioid use.
Area of Science:
- Qualitative Health Research
- Pain Management
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- New persistent opioid use, or prolonged postoperative opioid use, increases risks of complications, opioid use disorder, overdose, and death.
- Understanding patient experiences is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the subjective experiences of patients using opioids post-surgery.
- To understand the reasons for continued opioid use and its impact on patient perceptions and decision-making.
Main Methods:
- Thematic meta-synthesis of qualitative research, adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
- Systematic literature search across multiple databases (MEDLINE, WOS, PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane, Scopus, Google Scholar).
- Analysis of eight qualitative studies involving 310 patients using Thomas and Harden's three-stage thematic synthesis approach.
Main Results:
- Identified four main themes and 12 subthemes related to patients' experiences with postoperative pain and opioid use.
- Findings indicate that patients use opioids for reasons beyond pain relief, including maintaining functionality and facilitating return to daily activities.
Conclusions:
- Postoperative opioid use is influenced by factors beyond pain management, such as functional recovery.
- Emphasizes the need for patient-centered strategies, education, and guidance to prevent persistent opioid use.
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