Postoperative Opioid Prescribing via Rule-Based Guidelines Derived from In-Hospital Consumption: An Assessment of Efficacy Based on Postdischarge Opioid Use.

BACKGROUND: Many institutions have developed operation-specific guidelines for opioid prescribing. These guidelines rarely incorporate in-hospital opioid consumption, which is highly correlated with consumption. We compare outcomes of several patient-centered approaches to prescribing that are derived from in-hospital consumption, including several experimental, rule-based prescribing guidelines and our current institutional guideline. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective, cohort study of all adults undergoing surgery at a single-academic medical center. Several rule-based guidelines, derived from in-hospital consumption (quantity of opioids consumed within 24 hours of discharge), were used to specify the theoretical quantity of opioid prescribed on discharge. The efficacy of the experimental guidelines was compared with 3 references: an approximation of our institution's tailored prescribing guideline; prescribing all patients the typical quantity of opioids consumed for patients undergoing the same operation; and a representative rule-based, tiered framework. For each scenario, we calculated the penalized residual sum of squares (reflecting the composite deviation from actual patient consumption, with 15% penalty for overprescribing) and the proportion of opioids consumed relative to prescribed. RESULTS: A total of 1,048 patients met inclusion criteria. Mean (SD) and median (interquartile range [IQR]) quantity of opioids consumed within 24 hours of discharge were 11.2 (26.9) morphine milligram equivalents and 0 (0 to 15) morphine milligram equivalents. Median (IQR) postdischarge consumption was 16 (0 to 150) morphine milligram equivalents. Our institutional guideline and the previously validated rule-based guideline outperform alternate approaches, with median (IQR) differences in prescribed vs consumed opioids of 0 (-60 to 27.25) and 37.5 (-37.5 to 37.5), respectively, corresponding to penalized residual sum of squares of 39,817,602 and 38,336,895, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Rather than relying on fixed quantities for defined operations, rule-based guidelines offer a simple yet effective method for tailoring opioid prescribing to in-hospital consumption.

Advanced prescription of injectable anticancer drugs: Safety assessment in a European Comprehensive Cancer Centre using the risk matrix approach.

AIMS: The purpose of this work was to assess failures in the advanced prescription of parenteral anticancer agents in an adult day oncology care unit with more than 100 patients per day. METHODS: An a priori descriptive analysis was carried out by using the risk matrix approach. After defining the scope in a multidisciplinary meeting, we determined at each step the failure modes (FMs), their effects (E) and their associated causes (C). A severity score (S) was assigned to all effects and a probability of occurrence (O) to all causes. These S and O indicators, were used to obtain a criticality index (CI) matrix. We assessed the risk control (RC) of each failure in order to define a residual criticality index (rCI) matrix. RESULTS: During risk analysis, 14 FMs were detected, and 61 scenarios were identified considering all possible effects and causes. Nine situations (15%) were highlighted with the maximum CI, 18 (30%) with a medium CI, and 34 (55%) with a negligible CI. Nevertheless, among all these critical situations, only three (5%) had an rCI to process (i.e., missed dose adjustment, multiple prescriptions and abnormal biology data); the others required monitoring only. Clinicians' and pharmacists' knowledge of these critical situations enables them to manage the associated risks. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced prescription of injectable anticancer drugs appears to be a safe practice for patients when combined with risk management. The major risks identified concerned missed dose adjustment, prescription duplication and lack of consideration for abnormal biology data.

Marco jurídico de la prescripción médica en odontología / Legal framework of medical prescription in odontology

La receta médica es la materialización del acto médico a través de la cual el profesional de la salud prescribe a su paciente los fármacos necesarios para aliviar su enfermedad. Existen numerosas sustancias o fármacos que, por sus efectos, no pueden ser ofrecidas al público en general si no es mediante la expedición de una receta médica; por tanto, existen numerosas legislaciones y normas que regulan la prescripción médica con el objetivo de tener un control sobre los fármacos prescritos. A su vez, la receta médica debe tener una estructura específica, misma que está establecida por numerosas leyes y reglamentos sanitarios y que interesantemente es ignorada por múltiples médicos u odontólogos. El objetivo del presente artículo es definir el concepto de prescripción médica, así como indagar en todas las leyes y normas vigentes que regulan la prescripción médica en México (AU)

The medical prescription is the materialization of the medical act through which the health professional prescribes to his patient the necessary drugs to alleviate his illness There are numerous substances or drugs that, due to their effects, cannot be offered to the general public, except through the issuance of a medical prescription, and therefore, there are numerous laws that regulate the medical prescription with the aim of having control over prescribed drugs. In turn, the medical prescription must have a specific structure, which is established by numerous health laws and regulations, and which, interestingly enough, is ignored by many doctors and dentists. The aim of this article is to define the concept of medical prescription as well as to investigate all the current laws and regulations that regulate the medical prescription in Mexico (AU)

Will the New CDC Opioid Prescribing Guidelines Help Correct the Course in Pain Care?

This Medical News article discusses the 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain, an update to widely criticized recommendations released by the CDC in 2016.

Removal of pregnancy categories and likelihood of prescribing: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the degree to which removal of FDA' Pregnancy Categories (PC) of medications (A, B, C, and D) from labeling, affects the likelihood that providers will prescribe those medications. METHODS: Over a one-year period a convenience sample of providers was recruited into a randomized, survey-based, study. Two versions of the survey were randomly distributed; version 1 presented clinical vignettes, drug information, and PC, while version 2, presented the identical information without the PC. Respondents were asked to estimate their likelihood of prescribing the drug. A mixed linear model was constructed, with likelihood of prescription as the dependent variable, treated as interval-scaled. RESULTS: Out of 169 surveys given out, 162 (96%) were returned. Simple effects analysis showed that the presence of PC letter significantly affected the decision to prescribe category B (p<0.001) and C drugs (p=0.008) but not the A or D. Participants were significantly less likely to prescribe class B and C drugs when the letters were not available for review. These findings remained significant even when controlling for covariates (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: When a PC letter is absent on labeling, physicians were less likely to use category B and C drugs, the most common medications prescribed in pregnancy.

The Supreme Court Decision on Federal Prescribing Rules for Controlled Substances.

This Viewpoint explains how a recent Supreme Court decision clarifies rules for prescribing controlled substances so that patients are not denied appropriate care and physicians are not unjustly prosecuted.

Interchangeability of biosimilars: A study of expert views and visions regarding the science and substitution.

Healthcare systems have reached a critical point regarding the question of whether biosimilar substitution should become common practice. To move the discussion forward, the study objective was to investigate the views of experts from medicines agencies and the pharmaceutical industry on the science underpinning interchangeability of biosimilars. We conducted an empirical qualitative study using semi-structured interviews informed by a cross-disciplinary approach encompassing regulatory science, law, and pharmaceutical policy. In total 25 individuals with experience within biologics participated during September 2018-August 2019. Eight participants were EU national medicines authority regulators, and 17 had pharmaceutical industry background: five from two originator-only companies, four from two companies with both biosimilar and originator products, and eight from seven biosimilar-only companies. Two analysts independently conducted inductive content analysis, resulting in data-driven themes capturing the meaning of the data. The participants reported that interchangeability was more than a scientific question of likeness between biosimilar and reference products: it also pertained to regulatory practices and trust. Participants were overall confident in the science behind exchanging biosimilar products for the reference products via switching, i.e., with physician involvement. However, their opinions differed regarding the scientific risk associated with biosimilar substitution, i.e., without physician involvement. Almost all participants saw no need for additional scientific data to support substitution. Moreover, the participants did not believe that switching studies, as required in the US, were appropriate for obtaining scientific certainty due to their small size. It is unclear why biosimilar switching is viewed as scientifically safer than substitution; therefore, we expect greater policy debate on biosimilar substitution in the near future. We urge European and UK policymakers and regulators to clarify their visions for biosimilar substitution; the positions of these two frontrunners are likely to influence other jurisdictions on the future of biosimilar use.

Determinants associated with doctors' prescribing behaviors in public hospitals in China.

Doctors' prescribing behaviors impact both medical expenses and health resources. This study aims to identify the significant determinants of prescribing behaviors of doctors, which could potentially provide theoretical evidence on how to improve prescribing decisions. A multistage, stratified, cluster, random sampling method was employed in this survey. Data were collected from Jiangsu and Shanxi provinces in China in 2018. A total of 444 doctors in public hospitals completed the self-administered questionnaires. A structural equation model based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) was adopted for analysis. On the basis of the TPB, we constructed a model of doctors' prescribing behaviors, which explained the subjective and objective reasons for irrational prescribing behavior. Behavioral attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control could positively influence the actual behaviors, of which subjective norms impact prescribing behaviors the most. Employing the TPB helped in identifying determinants of prescribing behaviors from a new perspective. More significant policy changes and government support are required to help improve appropriate prescribing behaviors and ultimately make better prescribing decisions. This study provided a deeper understanding of this complex issue and will inform the development of a theory and evidence-based intervention for future research.

Opioids and Public Health: The Prescription Opioid Ecosystem and Need for Improved Management.

While U.S. opioid prescribing has decreased 38% in the past decade, opioid deaths have increased 300%. This opioid paradox is poorly recognized. Current approaches to opioid management are not working, and new approaches are needed. This article reviews the outcomes and shortcomings of recent U.S. opioid policies and strategies that focus primarily or exclusively on reducing or eliminating opioid prescribing. It introduces concepts of a prescription opioid ecosystem and opioid pool, and it discusses how the pool can be influenced by supply-side, demand-side, and opioid returns factors. It illuminates pressing policy needs for an opioid ecosystem that enables proper opioid stewardship, identifies associated responsibilities, and emphasizes the necessity of making opioid returns as easy and common as opioid prescribing, in order to minimize the size of the opioid pool available for potential diversion, misuse, overdose, and death. Approaches are applicable to opioid prescribing in general, and to opioid prescribing after surgery.

Criterios de Beers para identificar el consumo de medicación potencialmente inapropiada: adaptación para su aplicación en Argentina / Beers criteria to identify the consumption of potentially inappropriate medication: adaptation for its application inArgentina

Introducción. Los Criterios de Beers son los más utilizados para evaluar el uso de medicación potencialmente inapropiada en grandes poblaciones, pero no contemplan algunos medicamentos de uso frecuente fuera de los EE.UU. Objetivo. Realizar una adaptación al contexto de Argentina de los Criterios de Beers publicados en 2019. Métodos. Fue elaborada una lista preliminar de medicación potencialmente inapropiada adaptada a la comercialización local, que luego fue consensuada por un panel de expertos (método Delphi). Resultados. De los 112 medicamentos originales listados en la tabla dos de los Criterios de Beers (en forma individual o como grupo), fueron excluidos 36 por no estar disponibles el país y fueron sumados 23 que no se comercializan en los EE.UU. pero sí en Argentina. Luego de dos rondas y de consensuar la suma a esta lista de dos grupos farmacológicos(antimigrañosos y vasodilatadores periféricos), fue acordado el agregado de picosulfato, bisacodilo, senósidos y cáscara sagrada como medicación potencialmente inapropiada en el grupo de agentes contra el estreñimiento, la fluoxetina entre los inhibidores selectivos de la recaptación de serotonina y el Ginkgo biloba como droga contra la demencia. También hubo consenso en advertir el riesgo de hipotensión ortostática asociado a la tamsulosina, en aconsejar la consideración de la carga anticolinérgica total del esquema terapéutico administrado y en recomendar al paracetamol como primera línea de tratamiento del dolor, asociado o no a opioides. Conclusiones. Contar con una versión de los Criterios de Beers 2019 adaptada al contexto de Argentina contribuirá al desarrollo y monitoreo de intervenciones para prevenir y reducir el consumo de medicación potencialmente inapropiada. (AU)

Introduction.The Beers Criteria is the most widely used criteria to assess the use of potentially inappropriate medication in large populations, but they do not include some medications that are frequently used outside the United States. Objective.To make an adaptation of the Beers Criteria published in 2019 to the context of Argentina. Methods. A preliminary list of potentially inappropriate medication adapted to local market and practice was designed, which was then agreed upon by a panel of experts (Delphi method). Results. Of the 112 original drugs in the table 2 of the Beers Criteria (individually or as a group), 36 were excluded because they were not available in Argentina and 23 locally marketed drugs but not in the US were included. After two rounds and agreeing to add two additional pharmacological groups to this list (antimigraine and peripheral vasodilators), it was decided to add picosulfate, bisacodyl, sennosides and cascara sagrada as potentially inappropriate medication in the group of anti-constipation agents, fluoxetine among. the selective serotonin reup take inhibitors and Ginkgo biloba as an anti-dementia drug. There was also consensus in warning about the risk of orthostatic hypotension associated with tamsulosin,in advising consideration of the total anticholinergic load of the therapeutic regimen administered, and in recommending paracetamol as the first line of pain treatment, associated or not with opioids. Conclusions. Having a version of the Beers Criteria 2019 adapted to the Argentine context will contribute to the development and monitoring of interventions to prevent and reduce the consumption of potentially inappropriate medication. (AU)

Assessing the impact of the Global Point Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance (Global-PPS) on hospital antimicrobial stewardship programmes: results of a worldwide survey.

BACKGROUND: The Global Point Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance (Global-PPS) provides a methodology to support hospitals worldwide in collecting antimicrobial use data. We aim to evaluate the impact of the Global-PPS on local antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes and assess health care professionals' educational needs and barriers for implementing AMS. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was disseminated within the Global-PPS network. The target audience consisted of hospital healthcare workers, involved in local surveillance of antimicrobial consumption and resistance. This included contacts from hospitals that already participated in the Global-PPS or were planning to do so. The survey contained 24 questions that addressed the hospital's AMS activities, experiences conducting the PPS, as well as the learning needs and barriers for implementing AMS. RESULTS: A total of 248 hospitals from 74 countries participated in the survey, of which 192 had already conducted the PPS at least once. The survey response rate was estimated at 25%. In 96.9% of these 192 hospitals, Global-PPS participation had led to the identification of problems related to antimicrobial prescribing. In 69.3% at least one of the hospital's AMS components was initiated as a result of Global-PPS findings. The level of AMS implementation varied across regions. Up to 43.1% of all hospitals had a formal antimicrobial stewardship strategy, ranging from 10.8% in Africa to 60.9% in Northern America. Learning needs of hospitals in high-income countries and in low-and middle-income countries were largely similar and included general topics (e.g. 'optimising antibiotic treatment'), but also PPS-related topics (e.g. 'translating PPS results into meaningful interventions'). The main barriers to implementing AMS programmes were a lack of time (52.7%), knowledge on good prescribing practices (42.0%), and dedicated funding (39.9%). Hospitals in LMIC more often reported unavailability of prescribing guidelines, insufficient laboratory capacity and suboptimal use of the available laboratory services. CONCLUSIONS: Although we observed substantial variation in the level of AMS implementation across regions, the Global-PPS has been very useful in informing stewardship activities in many participating hospitals. More is still to be gained in guiding hospitals to integrate the PPS throughout AMS activities, building on existing structures and processes.

Changes in Initial Opioid Prescribing Practices After the 2016 Release of the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain.

Importance: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the "Guideline For Prescribing Opioids For Chronic Pain" (hereafter, CDC guideline) in 2016, but its association with prescribing practices for patients who are opioid naive is unknown. Objective: To estimate changes in initial prescribing rates, duration, and dosage practices to patients who are opioid naive after the release of the CDC guideline. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used 6 sequential cohorts to estimate preguideline trends in prescribing among patients who were opioid naive, project that trend forward, and compare it with postguideline prescribing practices. Participants included commercially insured adults without current cancer or hospice care diagnoses and with no past-year opioid claims in the US from 2011 to 2017. All adjusted models were controlled for patient demographics and state-fixed effects. Data were analyzed from January 2020 to May 2021. Exposures: The release of the CDC guideline. Main Outcomes and Measures: Indicators of any opioid prescription fills during a 9-month period, the number of days' supply of the initial prescription, and the binary indicator of whether the initial prescription was for 50 or more morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) per day. Results: There were 12 870 612 eligible unique patients across cohorts (mean [SD] age in 2016, 51.2 [18.7] years; 6 553 458 [50.9%] women); and the mean (SD) age of the cohorts increased annually, from 48.7 (17.9) years in the April 2011 to December 2012 cohort to 51.9 (19.2) years in the April 2016 to December 2017 cohort. The postguideline prescribing prevalence was 532 962 of 5 834 088 individuals (9.1%), which exceeded that projected from the preguideline trend, estimated at 9.0% (95% CI, 9.0%-9.1%). Among patients receiving prescriptions during follow-up, adjusted mean days' supply was 4.7% (95% CI, 4.3%-5.1%) lower in the first year after release of the guideline and 9.8% (95% CI, 9.3%-10.3%) lower in the second year after release, compared with the expected rate from the preguideline trend. The adjusted odds of receiving a high-dose (ie, ≥50 MME/d) initial prescription were lower in the first year (odds ratio, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96-0.98) and in the second year (odds ratio, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.93-0.96) after the release of the CDC guideline compared with the odds expected from the preguideline trend. Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study found that patients who were opioid naive continued to initiate opioid therapy after the release of opioid prescribing guidelines by the CDC, but trends in prescribing duration reversed and decreased, after increasing in each of 4 preguideline cohorts examined. High-dose prescribing rates were already decreasing, but those trends accelerated after the CDC guideline release. These results suggest that nonmandatory, evidence-based guidelines from trusted sources were associated with prescribing practices. Guideline-concordant care has potential to improve pain management and reduce opioid-related harms.

Assessment of Trends in Guideline-Based Oral Anticoagulant Prescription for Patients With Ischemic Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation in China.

Importance: Adherence to oral anticoagulants (OACs) per guideline recommendations is crucial in reducing ischemic stroke and systemic thromboembolism in high-risk patients with ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation. However, data on OAC use are underreported in China. Objective: To assess adherence to the Chinese Stroke Association or the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's clinical management guideline-recommended prescription of OACs, the temporal improvement in adherence, and the risk factors associated with OAC prescriptions. Design, Setting, and Participants: This quality improvement study was conducted at 1430 participating hospitals in the Chinese Stroke Center Alliance (CSCA) among patients with ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation enrolled in the CSCA between August 1, 2015, and July 31, 2019. Exposure: Calendar year. Main Outcomes and Measures: Adherence to the Chinese Stroke Association or the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's clinical management guideline-recommended prescribing of OACs (warfarin and non-vitamin K OACs, including dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban) at discharge. Results: Among 35 767 patients (18 785 women [52.5%]; mean [SD] age, 75.5 [9.2] years) with previous atrial fibrillation at admission, the median CHA2DS2-VASc (cardiac failure or dysfunction, hypertension, age 65-74 [1 point] or ≥75 years [2 points], diabetes, and stroke, transient ischemic attack or thromboembolism [2 points]-vascular disease, and sex category [female]) score was 4.0 (interquartile range, 3.0-5.0); 6303 (17.6%) were taking OACs prior to hospitalization for stroke, a rate that increased from 14.3% (20 of 140) in the third quarter of 2015 to 21.1% (118 of 560) in the third quarter of 2019 (P < .001 for trend). Of 49 531 eligible patients (26 028 men [52.5%]; mean [SD] age, 73.4 [10.4] years), 20 390 (41.2%) had an OAC prescription at discharge, an increase from 23.2% (36 of 155) in the third quarter of 2015 to 47.1% (403 of 856) in the third quarter of 2019 (P < .001 for trend). Warfarin was the most commonly prescribed OAC (11 956 [24.2%]) and had the largest temporal increase (from 5.8% [9 of 155] to 20.7% [177 of 856]). Older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] per 5 year increase, 0.89;95% CI, 0.89-0.90), lower levels of education (aOR for below elementary school, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74-0.95 ), lower income (aOR for ≤¥1000 [$154], 0.66; 95% CI, 0.59-0.73), having new rural cooperative medical scheme insurance (aOR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87-0.96), prior antiplatelet use (aOR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.66-0.74), having several cardiovascular comorbid conditions (including stroke or transient ischemic attack [aOR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.75-0.82], hypertension [aOR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.80-0.89], diabetes [aOR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.83-0.99], dyslipidemia [aOR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.80-0.94], carotid stenosis [aOR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.69-0.98], and peripheral vascular disease [aOR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.71-0.90]), and admission to secondary hospitals (aOR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.68-0.74) or hospitals located in the central region of China (aOR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.75-0.84) were associated with not being prescribed an OAC at discharge. Conclusions and Relevance: This quality improvement study suggests that, despite significant improvement over time, OAC prescriptions remained low. Efforts to increase OAC prescriptions, especially non-vitamin K OACs, are needed for vulnerable subgroups by age, socioeconomic status, and presence of comorbid conditions.

Changes in Opioid Prescribing Following the Implementation of State Policies Limiting Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose in a Commercially Insured Population.

BACKGROUND: Prescription opioid mortality doubled 2002-2016 in the United States. Given the association between high-dose opioid prescribing and opioid mortality, several states have enacted morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) policies to limit high-dose prescribing. The study objective is to evaluate the impact of state-level MEDD policies on opioid prescribing among the privately insured. METHODS: Claims data, 2010-2015 from 9 policy states and 2 control states and a comparative interrupted time series design were utilized. Primary outcomes were any monthly opioid use and average monthly MEDD. Stratified analyses evaluated theorized weaker policies (guidelines) and theorized stronger policies (passive alert systems, legislative acts, and rules/regulations) separately. Patient groups explicitly excluded from policies (eg, individuals with cancer diagnoses or receiving hospice care) were also examined separately. Analyses adjusted for covariates, state fixed effects, and time trends. RESULTS: Both guideline and strong policy implementation were both associated with 15% lower odds of any opioid use, relative to control states. However, there was no statistically significant change in the use of high-dose opioids in policy states relative to control states. There was also no difference in direction and significance of the relationship among targeted patient groups. CONCLUSIONS: MEDD policies were associated with decreased use of any opioids relative to control states, but no change in high-dose prescribing was observed. While the overall policy environment in treatment states may have discouraged opioid prescribing, there was no evidence of MEDD policy impact, specifically. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms through which MEDD policies may influence prescribing behavior.

Real-world anticancer medications for reproductive-age women with breast cancer by using a claims database in Japan.

Aim: To describe real-world breast cancer medications among reproductive-age women. Patients & methods: Using data from a Japanese claims database, anticancer prescriptions were classified into seven categories of amenorrhea risk based on fertility preservation guidelines. Results: We identified 2999 women with records of breast cancer and anticancer prescription from 2005 to 2018. The proportions of prescriptions were as follows: high, 4.1-12.9%; intermediate: 6.0-16.3%; low: 0.4-2.3%; very low/no: 0.3-12.2%; unknown: 33.9-45.5%; unlisted combination: 12.2-23.4%; and unlisted drug: 12.5-26.7%. The common drugs in the unknown category were trastuzumab (n = 1527), docetaxel (n = 1014), and paclitaxel (n = 995). For medications unlisted in the guidelines, various drugs and drug combinations were observed. Conclusion: Numerous anticancer drugs are currently being prescribed with insufficient evidence regarding amenorrhea risk.

Lay abstract The ability to have children for breast cancer patients is one of the key issues of cancer survivorship, especially because recent progress in anticancer treatments has enabled patients to achieve longer survival. The fertility preservation guidelines of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (2006) introduce some anticancer treatments that carry potential risks to future fertility. In this study, the anticancer prescriptions of 2999 patients with breast cancer aged between 15 and 49 years were examined. Results showed that several medications are prescribed despite the lack of information on the risk of infertility. This suggests that further research is required to fill the evidence gap, and that decision aid through adequate counseling should be undertaken.

Changes in Single-Specialty Postoperative Opioid Prescribing Patterns in Response to Legislation: Single-Institution Analysis Over Time.

OBJECTIVES: To determine changes in the prescriptions of postoperative opioids in response to Florida state legislation restricting the number of days for which these medications could be prescribed to 3 days in most circumstances or 7 days at provider discretion. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review was performed for all patients undergoing 7 common outpatient otolaryngology surgical procedures. SETTING: Single-institution academic center in Florida. METHODS: Query of the state's online prescription drug monitoring program was used to compare prescription habits 3 months before and after the law and then again 1 year later. RESULTS: A total of 561 patients were identified meeting criteria. The number of days that opioids were prescribed decreased significantly, from 6.42 to 4.48 to 3.03 days. There was a significant decrease in the proportion of patients receiving any postoperative opioid prescription, from 0.80 to 0.52 to 0.32. The total morphine milligram equivalents prescribed decreased from 28.4 before the law to 18.4 at 1 year after. CONCLUSIONS: Legislative restrictions on the length of opioid prescriptions were associated with significant decreases in the proportion of patients receiving any opioids, the number of days that opioids were prescribed, and the total morphine milligram equivalents 3 months after the law went into effect, with even more dramatic changes at the 1-year time point. We opine that these changes are due to providers learning that many procedures do not require postoperative opioids and therefore increasingly considering and utilizing nonopioid alternatives in this setting.