After surgery, patients are often given strong painkillers called opioids. These are effective for short-term pain, but using them for too long can lead to serious problems like addiction or overdose. This study explored whether pharmacists could help patients safely reduce or stop using opioids after being discharged from hospital.
Patients who had surgery and were sent home with opioids were contacted by a pharmacist within 7–10 days. The pharmacist reviewed their medications and supported them in managing pain safely. The aim was to test whether this kind of follow-up was practical and beneficial.
Researchers looked at how many patients took part, how well the pharmacists followed the plan, and whether patients and healthcare staff found the approach useful. They also tracked how many patients reduced or stopped using opioids within three months.
