What does this research mean for the field?

A one-time, physician-directed educational event combined with consensus building and procedure-specific protocol development significantly reduces post-operative opioid prescribing without increasing patient refill demand. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate whether a brief, physician-led consensus-building educational intervention reduces post-operative opioid prescribing within a multi-specialty private practice.

September 5, 2026Journal of Orthopaedic Experience & Innovation

A physician led consensus building intervention at a multi-specialty practice results in meaningful reduction of opioid prescriptions for post-operative patients

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Authors

JGJenna GodfreySlocum Research and Education Foundation JBJohn Paul BigouetteCenters for Disease Control and Prevention CFConnor FitzpatrickSlocum Research and Education Foundation

Discussion

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Implication

Quality improvement study demonstrates significant reductions in post-operative morphine equivalents across surgical patients, suggesting that brief consensus interventions curb opioid overuse.

Key Points

To evaluate whether a brief, physician-led consensus-building educational intervention reduces post-operative opioid prescribing within a multi-specialty private practice.
Providers (N=33 DEA-licensed surgeons and mid-level providers) attended a single two-hour journal club covering opioid epidemiology, evidence reviews, and sub-specialty protocol design for opioid-naïve patients.
Tracked post-operative morphine equivalents (MEQs) and prescription counts through 90 days for 10 months pre-intervention (N=3,962 patients; 7,392 prescriptions) and one year post-intervention (N=4,330 patients; 7,650 prescriptions).
Applied statistical quality control charts to monitor intervention impact and durability over time.
Mean monthly MEQs decreased from 334,637 (SD = 25,517) pre-intervention to 233,913 (SD = 58,024) post-intervention (p < 0.001).
Mean MEQ per prescription fell from 451 (SD = 373) to 350 (SD = 301, p < 0.001), and mean MEQ per patient dropped from 834 (SD = 1,443) to 626 (SD = 1,158, p < 0.001).
Mean prescription count declined from 1.86 (SD = 1.75) to 1.77 (SD = 1.66, p = 0.0108), with sustained reductions at one year without increased patient refill demand.

Cite This Study

Godfrey et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9bd48c6b95aff0620ec50a https://doi.org/10.60118/001c.162453

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Implication

Quality improvement study demonstrates significant reductions in post-operative morphine equivalents across surgical patients, suggesting that brief consensus interventions curb opioid overuse.

A physician led consensus building intervention at a multi-specialty practice results in meaningful reduction of opioid prescriptions for post-operative patients

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

A physician led consensus building intervention at a multi-specialty practice results in meaningful reduction of opioid prescriptions for post-operative patients

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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