Does the Use of a Visual Cognitive Aid Improve Patient Compliance With a Postoperative Analgesic Regimen? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

The use of scheduled non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen in the postoperative setting has been shown to reduce the need for prescription narcotic pain medications. Our objective is to determine if the implementation of a visual cognitive aid will improve patient compliance with a scheduled NSAID and acetaminophen regimen, thereby decreasing the use of narcotic pain medications. We conducted a single-blind randomized controlled trial in patients receiving outpatient oral surgery procedures from a single office.