Researchers from the New Haven, Conn.-based Yale School of Medicine surveyed patients and nurses on the potential of a Yale University-developed, patient-controlled liquid oral opioid dispenser.
The surveys were administered to 43 patients and 53 nurses between September 2022 and July 2023 at Yale New Haven Hospital. Of the nurses, 47.7% specialized in oncology.
Surveyed nurses reported that half of patients received delayed medication, at an average delay of 22 minutes. Nurses also reported that half their time was spent administering pain medication and that they were moderately satisfied with the current delivery of medication, according to the study.
The Yale device is called a patient-controlled dispenser and deactivator and would allow patients to self-administer liquid oral pain medication. The device has safety features to limit misuse and provides an estimate on opioid requirements for discharge.
“Patient controlled self-administered liquid oral opioid delivery is conceptually innovative, practically viable and potentially a preferred alternative for timely and less nurse-exhaustive pain management,” the study authors wrote.
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