Factors related to opioid misuse among patients undergoing elective surgery in Poland

In many countries, the consumption of illicit opioids is rising, becoming a major public health issue called the opioid crisis. Many reasons contribute to this phenomenon. One of them is opioid misuse, defined as the use of legally prescribed opioids for a purpose different than pain treatment. This matter has not been well studied in Poland, where the opioid crisis has not been identified so far. This study was conducted among patients admitted for elective surgery with opioid-based postoperative pain treatment. The frequency of opioid misuse was found to be 10.8% in a sample comprising 92 patients. The group of individuals with potential opioid use disorder had a more frequent history of inadequately controlled postoperative pain compared to the group of non-misusers (p = 0.023). Furthermore, this group asked to receive additional pain treatment almost six times more often than the control group (p < 0.000). Also, patients declaring opioid misuse reported substantial differences concerning their knowledge and opinions about pain treatment and opioid analgesics: supporting the administration of opioids for pain when needed, finding opioids less harmful, and supporting messages that opioids are safe, effective, well-tolerated, easy to cutoff more often than control. There is an urgent need for the education of patients to avoid the spreading of the opioid crisis.

Automated summary

Illicit opioid consumption is increasing in many countries, leading to the opioid crisis, a major public health issue. This study investigates opioid misuse among patients undergoing elective surgery in Poland, where the opioid crisis has not been identified. Findings show that 10.8% of the sample of 92 patients reported opioid misuse. Those with potential opioid use disorder experienced more inadequately controlled postoperative pain and requested additional pain treatment more frequently compared to non-misusers. Patients declaring opioid misuse also had different knowledge and opinions about pain treatment and opioids.