Testing a Pharmacist-Led Opioid Reduction Before Knee or Hip Replacement Surgery

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to develop and evaluate a pharmacist-led opioid taper intervention for adults with chronic opioid use who are preparing for total knee or hip replacement surgery. It seeks to determine if the intervention is feasible and acceptable to patients and whether it can reduce opioid dose before surgery. The study is led by the University of Alabama at Birmingham and focuses on patients with arthritis-related chronic pain undergoing joint replacement. Participants will work with a clinical pharmacist who will provide education about pain and opioid use and suggest a tapering plan to reduce opioid intake by about 50% over a 4 to 6 week period before surgery. The pharmacist will follow up weekly by phone to support progress and adjust the taper schedule as needed during this preoperative phase. During the study, participants acceptability of the intervention and recruitment and retention rates will be monitored from enrollment until roughly two weeks after surgery. Researchers will also assess taper effectiveness and perioperative pain levels. The total participation involves the preoperative period and a short postoperative follow-up to evaluate outcomes related to opioid use and pain management.

Developing an Opioid Taper Intervention Before Total Joint Arthroplasty