An intervention in hospitalized patients targeting the use of intravenous (IV) opioids may be associated with reduced opioid exposure while providing effective pain control, a recent study suggests. The intervention involved adoption of a local opioid standard of practice, preferring the oral and subcutaneous routes over IV administration, and education for prescribers and staff on awareness of the subcutaneous route was implemented. Use of opioids was compared between a 6-month control period and 3 months following education for the prescribers on opioid routes of administration. The primary outcome was a reduction in IV doses administered per patient-day. Researchers found:

• The intervention period included 127 patients and 2,459 patient-days.
• IV opioid dosing was reduced by 84% and doses of all parenteral opioids were reduced by 55% after adoption.
• Mean pain scores were similar to those prior to implementation of the new standard.