A qualitative assessment of perceptions and attitudes toward postoperative pain and opioid use in patients undergoing elective knee arthroscopyBackground: Orthopedic surgeons routinely prescribe opioids to manage postoperative pain. In the face of an opioid epidemic, a one-size-fits-all approach to pain management is no longer appropriate. Patient-centred prescribing practices should be used by surgeons; however, little is known about what influences patient attitudes toward postoperative pain and its management to inform such practices. We sought to explore patient attitudes toward postsurgical pain management, including opioids. Methods:We conducted qualitative, semistructured interviews of 11 opioid-naive patients (age 16-46 yr) who were scheduled to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery. Transcripts were analyzed thematically using a framework analysis that involved familiarization, developing a thematic framework, indexing, charting and mapping, and interpretation.Results: Participant attitudes toward postoperative pain and opioids were influenced by perceived tolerance to pain based on personal experience, perceived predisposition to addiction based on personal assumptions regarding addictive personality traits and risk factors, and perceptions of opioid use shaped by external influences, including family, friends and the media's depiction of the opioid epidemic. Every patient expressed that preoperative counselling and education regarding postoperative pain management would be beneficial in improving their knowledge base, easing anxieties and clarifying misunderstandings. Conclusion:Surgeons can address the patient-reported factors identified in this study to help optimize a patient's perioperative experience without relying solely on prescribed analgesia. By improving accessibility to education and promoting safe, patient-centred prescribing practices, we may reduce reliance on opioids in orthopedic surgery. Contexte :Les chirurgiens orthopédistes prescrivent régulièrement des opioïdes pour soulager la douleur postopératoire. Dans le contexte de la crise des opioïdes, une approche unique de la gestion de la douleur ne suffit plus. Les chirurgiens devraient avoir recours à des pratiques de prescription centrées sur le patient. Cependant, on ne sait pas grand-chose sur les facteurs qui influencent l'attitude des patients à l'égard de la douleur postopératoire et de sa prise en charge, et qui pourraient servir à orienter ces pratiques. Nous avons donc voulu explorer les attitudes des patients face à la gestion de la douleur postopératoire, notamment par le recours aux opioïdes.Méthodes : Nous avons mené des entretiens qualitatifs semi-structurés auprès de 11 patients (âgés de 16-46 ans) qui n'avaient jamais pris d'opioïdes et qui devaient subir une chirurgie arthroscopique du genou. Les transcriptions ont été analysées selon un cadre d'analyse thématique comprenant la familiarisation, l'élaboration d'un cadre thématique, l'indexation, la création de graphiques et de cartes, et l'interprétation.Résultats : Les at...