Orthopedic surgeon residency programs lack training on opioid-prescribing practices, Reuters reported based on a study in The American Journal of Surgery.
Researchers surveyed 60 orthopedic residency programs.They found orthopedic residency programs frequently lacked training onorthopedic prescribing patterns and that some residency directors were often unaware of local controlled substance regulations.
Fifty-four programs said they allowed residents to prescribe opioids. Nine residency programs required residents to register with the DEA. Thirty-eight programs used their hospital's DEA registration and seven were unsure what DEA registration they used.
Fourty-five percent of respondents made an opioid prescribing program a requirement. Six program directors were unsure if they had a mandatory program, and 16 respondents didn't have a program but were thinking about adding one.
Thirteen percent of residency directors didn't know their state's laws regarding prescription drug monitoring programs and 28 percent incorrectly answered questions about their state's opioid education requirements.
The findings are notable because orthopedic surgeons prescribed about 8 percent of all opioids in 2017, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.