Caregiver Perception, Self-efficacy, and Knowledge of Methadone Tapers for Children With Iatrogenic Opioid Abstinence Syndrome

Abstract

Background: There are no definitive guidelines regarding the management of iatrogenic opioid abstinence syndrome (IOAS), but methadone tapers are one common approach. Methadone tapers can be complex for caregivers to manage, and there is a paucity of data about caregiver experiences administering medication tapers postdischarge. Objective: The primary objective was to describe caregiver perception, self-efficacy, and knowledge of administering methadone tapers. Secondary objectives included an assessment of the change in self-efficacy and knowledge of methadone and IOAS before and after discharge as well as clinical outcomes occurring postdischarge. Methods: This was an exploratory, descriptive, institutional review board–approved study surveying caregivers of children receiving methadone tapers for IOAS. Caregivers were included if they had a child ≤12 years of age discharged to home on a methadone taper. The study consisted of 2 phases: a questionnaire and observation/counseling session predischarge and a telephone interview after taper completion. Univariate descriptive statistics were utilized for data analysis. Results: Phase 1 of the study was completed by 12 caregivers, and only 5 completed phase 2. The majority of caregivers were completely confident predischarge (83.3%) and postdischarge (80%) in administering methadone as prescribed. However, some caregivers were confused about the purpose of the taper and experienced difficulty in measuring oral solutions. Conclusions: Despite high self-efficacy, caregivers experienced difficulties in understanding taper management and during the observation session. The results of this study suggest presenting information to caregivers utilizing minimal medical jargon, conducting a counseling/observation session predischarge, and utilizing the teach-back method with caregivers to assess for understanding.