The following is the summary of “Real-Time Measurement of Patient Reported Outcomes and Opioid Use Following Urologic Procedures using Automated Text Messaging” published in the December 2022 issue of Urology by Lee, et al.

The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between opioid use and patient-reported pain after urologic procedures. In a large tertiary care academic health system, data were collected from adult patients who gave informed consent following a urologic procedure through postoperative day 28. Pain ratings, self-reported pain management skills, and opioid use (in oxycodone 5mg tablet equivalents) were collected using an automated text messaging platform. To get accurate numbers, researchers used a weighting system based on the inverse of the respondents’ probabilities of responding to the survey.

 Over half of the patients who were sent the text message survey completed it. The typical patient takes only 2 of the 10 tablets prescribed (interquartile range [IQR]: 6-10). (IQR 0-6). On day 7 after surgery, the median number of pills consumed was zero. During the trial, 38.4% of the patients who were prescribed opioids did not end up using any of them, and 60.1% of the tablets prescribed were left unused. Patients state that the 75^th percentile of use for all urologic operations (excluding large open procedures) can be met with 6 pills.

Investigators found significant evidence of over-prescribing opioids in one study that monitored opioid use and pain levels in real-time via text messages. Information provided by patients through text messages can help doctors and policymakers personalize treatment plans, implement shared decision-making, and reduce opioid overdose deaths.

Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0090429522007750