Hospital discharge opioid guidelines and policies: a Victorian survey

Abstract

Background Opioid prescribing has increased over the past two decades in Australia and has been associated with a rise in opioid‐related harm, including hospitalisations. Guidelines for supplying opioids at discharge from hospitals may reduce these associated risks. Examples of these guidelines exist worldwide, but it is unknown what strategies Victorian hospitals are using. Aim The aim of the present study was to discover what strategies, if any, Victorian hospitals are using to decrease risk associated with opioids prescribed on discharge and the perceived barriers to implementing these strategies. Methods An online survey was sent to each Victorian hospital. Participants were asked questions about whether their service was using an opioid discharge guideline, the barriers to using these guidelines and whether they would use industry‐ or peer‐developed guidelines if available. Results Staff from 41 (19.62%) hospitals responded to the survey. Ten hospitals reported having a guideline. Nearly half (41.5%) of the hospitals that did not have a guideline reported that they would consider using an industry‐ or peer‐developed guideline. Time, funding, collaboration between stakeholders and staffing inconsistencies were reported as barriers to development and implementation. Conclusion Only a small number of Victorian hospitals are using opioid discharge prescribing guidelines. Development of industry‐ or peer‐developed guidelines may bypass many of the barriers to development and implementation.