Opioid analgesic administration in patients with suspected drug use

To identify the prevalence of patients suspected of drug use according to the nursing professionals' judgement, and compare the behavior of these professionals in opioid administration when there is or there is no suspicion that patient is a drug user.

Method:

A cross-sectional study with 507 patients and 199 nursing professionals responsible for administering drugs to these patients. The Chi-Square test, Fisher's Exact and a significance level of 5% were used for the analyzes.

Results:

The prevalence of suspected patients was 6.7%. The prevalence ratio of administration of opioid analgesics 'if necessary' is twice higher among patients suspected of drug use compared to patients not suspected of drug use (p = 0.037).

Conclusion:

The prevalence of patients suspected of drug use was similar to that of studies performed in emergency departments. Patients suspected of drug use receive more opioids than patients not suspected of drug use.

Descriptors:
Opioid Analgesics; Drug Abuse; Nursing; Pain; Patients

Opioid IN^* * If necessary; Fisher’s p value = 0,037.	Suspected according to at least one professional
	No		Yes		Total
	n	%	n	%	n	%
Not administered	160	73.4	7	46.7	167	71.7
Administered	58	26.6	8	53.3	66	28.3
Total	218	100	15	100	233	100

Non-opioid IN^* * If necessary; Fisher’s p value = 1	Suspected according to at least one professional
	No		Yes		Total
	n	%	n	%	n	%
Not administered	63	64.3	6	66.7	69	64.5
Administered	35	35.7	3	33.3	38	35.5
Total	98	100	9	100	107	100

Opioid HF^* * Fixed times; Fisher’s p value = 1	Suspected according to at least one professional
	No		Yes		Total
	n	%	n	%	n	%
Not administered	28	10.2	2	9.1	30	10.1
Administered	247	89.8	20	90.9	267	89.9
Total	275	100	22	100	297	100

Non-opioid FT^* * Fixed times; Fisher’s p value = 0.6876	Suspected according to at least one professional
	No		Yes		Total
	n	%	n	%	n	%
Not administered	25	7.4	2	8.7	27	7.5
Administered	311	92.6	21	91.3	332	92.5
Total	336	100	23	100	359	100

Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem SGA Norte Quadra 603 Conj. "B" - Av. L2 Norte 70830-102 Brasília, DF, Brasil, Tel.: (55 61) 3226-0653, Fax: (55 61) 3225-4473 - Brasília - DF - Brazil
E-mail: reben@abennacional.org.br

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[1] CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Maria Clara Giorio Dutra Kreling. E-mail: mclara@uel.br