This study seeks to investigate the prescribing patterns and patient utilization of opioid pain medication in the postpartum setting. Postpartum women will be surveyed prior to hospital discharge and again at 2-4 weeks postpartum in order to assess the number of opioid tablets they used (in relation to the number prescribed), pain satisfaction, and storage/disposal of any remaining opioid tablets.

Population

Women who are postpartum

Brief Title

Postpartum Opioid Prescribing Patterns and Patient Utilization

Official Title

Postpartum Opioid Prescribing Patterns and Patient Utilization

Brief Summary

This study seeks to investigate the prescribing patterns and patient utilization of opioid<br /> pain medication in the postpartum setting. Postpartum women will be surveyed prior to<br /> hospital discharge and again at 2-4 weeks postpartum in order to assess the number of opioid<br /> tablets they used (in relation to the number prescribed), pain satisfaction, and<br /> storage/disposal of any remaining opioid tablets.

Detailed Description

Opiate abuse is a national epidemic and has paralleled the increase in opioid prescriptions,
with diversion of surplus medication playing a key contributing role. As the majority of
reproductive age women in the U.S. will experience childbirth, understanding opioid
prescription patterns and patient opioid utilization in the postpartum period is critical.

Postpartum women will be recruited during a 9-month period to take part in pre-hospital
discharge and 2-4 week postpartum surveys to prospectively assess opioid medication use with
regard to quantity of opioid tablets prescribed and quantity used, storage and disposal of
unused opioids and satisfaction with pain control.

Outcome Measures

Outcome measures are the tests that investigators perform to prove whether or not a treatment being tested in a clinical trial is having any effect.