Improving hospital care for people who use drugs: deliberative process development of a clinical guideline for opioid withdrawal management

Original research
par
Wickremsinhe, Marisha et al

Date de publication

2024

Géographie

UK

Langue de la ressource

English

Texte disponible en version intégrale

Oui

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Oui

Évalué par des pairs

Yes

L’objectif

To develop a clinical guideline for opioid withdrawal management in acute National Health Service (NHS) hospital trusts to be tested and evaluated as part of the iHOST (Improving Hospital Opioid Substitution Therapy) research intervention.

Constatations/points à retenir

The iHOST clinical guideline aims to remove procedural barriers to opioid withdrawal management for hospital inpatients. 

Changes to the UCLH guideline included removal of mandatory urine drug testing prior to opioid substitution therapy (OST); increasing initial methadone titration dose; and provision for a higher day-one titration dose when specific safety criteria are met. Discharge planning to ensure continuity of community care and reduce risk of opioid overdose was emphasised, with allowance for bridging prescriptions of OST and naloxone provision on hospital discharge.

La conception ou méthodologie de recherche

The University London College Hospital (UCLH) substance dependence guideline was used as a template, with key points of revision informed by evidence review, consultations with hospital staff and people with opioid dependence. A multidisciplinary working group deliberated evidence statements to develop recommendations. These were reviewed by an oversight committee comprising representatives from key stakeholder organisations. The team authored the guideline with iterative review by the oversight committee, key stakeholders and UCLH clinical governance committees. 

Mots clés

Barriers and enablers
Carries/take-home doses
Clinical guidance
Harm reduction
Hospitals
Opioids
Peer/PWLLE program involvement
Policy/Regulatory
Stigma
Substitution/OAT
Transitions in care/treatment
Withdrawal
Overdose