The Effectiveness of Opioid Education in Reducing Opioid Misuse among Adult Patients in Acute Care: A Systematic Review

Background: Pain is a complex phenomenon that has been effectively managed through various interventions, including opioid analgesics. However, rising opioid misuse, abuse, and addiction have become major public health concerns, with significant physiological, psychological, and social consequences for patients. This challenge also places a financial burden on the National Health Service (NHS) through repeated admissions, prolonged hospital stays, and increased pressure on healthcare workers. While awareness of the need for opioid education has grown in recent years, its application within acute care settings has received limited attention. Objective: This systematic review evaluated evidence on the effectiveness of opioid education in reducing opioid misuse. It aims to identify evidence-based strategies and key educational topics relevant to safe opioid use. Methods: The review followed PRISMA guidelines and conducted a comprehensive search of EBSCOHOST, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase for studies published between 2012 and 2022. Study quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist for randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool for RCTs and ROBINS-I for non-randomised studies. Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria (five RCTs and one proof-of-concept study), involving a total of 601 participants. Three key themes emerged from the findings. Across studies, patient-centered opioid education improved knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions, which in turn reduced opioid consumption and promoted safe storage and disposal practices. Essential educational content included information on side effects, risks of misuse, addiction and abuse, tapering strategies, non-opioid alternatives, and safe handling of opioids. Multimodal approaches were consistently emphasized. Conclusion: Evidence highlights the value of structured opioid education in promoting safer opioid use and reducing misuse across healthcare settings. Further research is warranted to evaluate its effectiveness in acute care contexts and within the UK.