Evaluation of a mobile application to decrease opioid misuse in patients undergoing cesarean section: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Opioid misuse and addiction are at epidemic levels in the United States. Postoperative opioid prescription is inconsistent and often excessive, including for cesarean section patients. Technology, such as mobile applications and clinical decision support tools, can be used to dec...

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Main Authors: Annabelle Abdo, Mariel O’Connor, Jessica Kelley Morgan, Laura Hart, Alexa Leib, Steven K. Walther, Andy Tang, Gail Herrine
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06953-7
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author Annabelle Abdo
Mariel O’Connor
Jessica Kelley Morgan
Laura Hart
Alexa Leib
Steven K. Walther
Andy Tang
Gail Herrine
author_facet Annabelle Abdo
Mariel O’Connor
Jessica Kelley Morgan
Laura Hart
Alexa Leib
Steven K. Walther
Andy Tang
Gail Herrine
author_sort Annabelle Abdo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Opioid misuse and addiction are at epidemic levels in the United States. Postoperative opioid prescription is inconsistent and often excessive, including for cesarean section patients. Technology, such as mobile applications and clinical decision support tools, can be used to decrease opioid use and misuse among patients, and to determine more appropriate prescribing practices for specific procedures. The objective of this study was to examine the preliminary impact of the Continuing Precision Medicine (CPM) mobile application to reduce the use of opioid pain medication among women who underwent cesarean section. The primary outcome is morphine milligram equivalents (MME), while the secondary outcomes will be delay to dosages, decrease of usage, and pain scores. Methods Patients undergoing cesarean section were randomized to either a control group or an experimental group, which used the CPMRx mobile app to help manage postoperative pain. Logistic regression analyses were run to predict opioid misuse by group (control [electronic monitoring blister pack only] versus CPMRx [electronic monitoring blister pack plus mobile application]) and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. Relative risk (RR) was also estimated by log-binomial regression. Results In phase I, 105 patients were assessed for eligibility, however, 66 were excluded (not meeting criteria or declined to participate). In phase 2, 98 patients were assessed for eligibility, however, 48 were excluded for the aforementioned. Results of the logistic regression showed that opioid misuse differed significantly by group (χ2 = 7.27, p = 0.007) with participants in the CPMRx group experiencing a 92% reduction in odds of opioid misuse compared to blister packs only (OR = 0.08, p = 0.03). Relative risk estimation by log-binomial regression also revealed that patients in the control group were at 7 times higher risk of opioid misuse than those using the CPMRx app (Wald χ2 = 3.82, RR = 7.00, p = 0.05). Among the 21 participants in Phase I who did not misuse their prescription opioids, the average number of pills used was 2.7 (SD = 3.5); 95% of patients used 8 or fewer pills, 90% used 6 or fewer, 75% used 4 or fewer, and half of participants used 1 or fewer opioids. Conclusions Women using the CPMRx mobile application were less likely to misuse their prescription opioids during the postoperative period following cesarean section. A prescription of 7 tablets of 5 mg oxycodone may be a more appropriate prescription size among this group. Systematically right-sizing prescriptions, including for subgroups, may decrease both patient- and community-level risk of opioid misuse and reduce public health burden. Trial registration The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05461196, 18/07/2022).
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spelling doaj-art-46fed0f6861e4eacab22dbaaa2cc2ff62025-08-20T02:20:44ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932024-12-012411810.1186/s12884-024-06953-7Evaluation of a mobile application to decrease opioid misuse in patients undergoing cesarean section: a randomized controlled trialAnnabelle Abdo0Mariel O’Connor1Jessica Kelley Morgan2Laura Hart3Alexa Leib4Steven K. Walther5Andy Tang6Gail Herrine7Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Temple University Lewis Katz School of MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Temple University Lewis Katz School of MedicineContinuous Precision MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Temple University Lewis Katz School of MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Temple University Lewis Katz School of MedicineContinuous Precision MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Temple University Lewis Katz School of MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Temple University Lewis Katz School of MedicineAbstract Background Opioid misuse and addiction are at epidemic levels in the United States. Postoperative opioid prescription is inconsistent and often excessive, including for cesarean section patients. Technology, such as mobile applications and clinical decision support tools, can be used to decrease opioid use and misuse among patients, and to determine more appropriate prescribing practices for specific procedures. The objective of this study was to examine the preliminary impact of the Continuing Precision Medicine (CPM) mobile application to reduce the use of opioid pain medication among women who underwent cesarean section. The primary outcome is morphine milligram equivalents (MME), while the secondary outcomes will be delay to dosages, decrease of usage, and pain scores. Methods Patients undergoing cesarean section were randomized to either a control group or an experimental group, which used the CPMRx mobile app to help manage postoperative pain. Logistic regression analyses were run to predict opioid misuse by group (control [electronic monitoring blister pack only] versus CPMRx [electronic monitoring blister pack plus mobile application]) and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. Relative risk (RR) was also estimated by log-binomial regression. Results In phase I, 105 patients were assessed for eligibility, however, 66 were excluded (not meeting criteria or declined to participate). In phase 2, 98 patients were assessed for eligibility, however, 48 were excluded for the aforementioned. Results of the logistic regression showed that opioid misuse differed significantly by group (χ2 = 7.27, p = 0.007) with participants in the CPMRx group experiencing a 92% reduction in odds of opioid misuse compared to blister packs only (OR = 0.08, p = 0.03). Relative risk estimation by log-binomial regression also revealed that patients in the control group were at 7 times higher risk of opioid misuse than those using the CPMRx app (Wald χ2 = 3.82, RR = 7.00, p = 0.05). Among the 21 participants in Phase I who did not misuse their prescription opioids, the average number of pills used was 2.7 (SD = 3.5); 95% of patients used 8 or fewer pills, 90% used 6 or fewer, 75% used 4 or fewer, and half of participants used 1 or fewer opioids. Conclusions Women using the CPMRx mobile application were less likely to misuse their prescription opioids during the postoperative period following cesarean section. A prescription of 7 tablets of 5 mg oxycodone may be a more appropriate prescription size among this group. Systematically right-sizing prescriptions, including for subgroups, may decrease both patient- and community-level risk of opioid misuse and reduce public health burden. Trial registration The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05461196, 18/07/2022).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06953-7ObstetricsOpioid misusePrescriptionCesarean sectionSubstance usePrimary prevention
spellingShingle Annabelle Abdo
Mariel O’Connor
Jessica Kelley Morgan
Laura Hart
Alexa Leib
Steven K. Walther
Andy Tang
Gail Herrine
Evaluation of a mobile application to decrease opioid misuse in patients undergoing cesarean section: a randomized controlled trial
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Obstetrics
Opioid misuse
Prescription
Cesarean section
Substance use
Primary prevention
title Evaluation of a mobile application to decrease opioid misuse in patients undergoing cesarean section: a randomized controlled trial
title_full Evaluation of a mobile application to decrease opioid misuse in patients undergoing cesarean section: a randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Evaluation of a mobile application to decrease opioid misuse in patients undergoing cesarean section: a randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of a mobile application to decrease opioid misuse in patients undergoing cesarean section: a randomized controlled trial
title_short Evaluation of a mobile application to decrease opioid misuse in patients undergoing cesarean section: a randomized controlled trial
title_sort evaluation of a mobile application to decrease opioid misuse in patients undergoing cesarean section a randomized controlled trial
topic Obstetrics
Opioid misuse
Prescription
Cesarean section
Substance use
Primary prevention
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06953-7
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