Surgeon Opioid Prescribing and Persistent Use Risk in Surgery Patients

This study aimed to analyze the connection between surgeon opioid prescribing intensity and patients’ subsequent persistent opioid use post-surgery. The results indicate that patients with surgeons in the highest intensity quartile were more likely to fill opioid prescriptions within 7 days after surgery compared to those with surgeons in the lowest quartile. While the primary analysis showed a rare incidence of persistent opioid use in both quartiles, stricter definitions revealed a significant association between surgeon quartile and persistent use. Surgeons’ prescribing practices may contribute to persistent opioid use and should be targeted for improvement.