%0 Journal Article %A Anna Weil %A Shan Shan Vijeratnam %A Valerie Potter %A Jaymi Teli %A David Feuer %T Better opioid prescribing in an inpatient oncology unit: quality improvement project %D 2022 %R 10.1136/bmjspcare-2021-003477 %J BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care %P bmjspcare-2021-003477 %X Objectives Unsafe opioid prescribing can lead to significant patient harm and improving standards is a national priority. This report summarises a three-stage process relating to opioid prescribing, which has led to a sustained improvement.Methods Opioid prescriptions were reviewed retrospectively over a 4-year period in a tertiary cancer centre. The first audit cycle took place in 2017. When repeated in February 2020 following an opioid education programme implementation, prescribing remained poor. In September 2020, a quality improvement project (QIP) was developed with several interventions including opioid prescribing guidelines.Results The first audit demonstrated that 76% met safe prescribing and 68% best practice. The second audit showed a deterioration in prescribing, 61% met safe prescribing and 39% best practice despite the implementation of an education programme. The QIP has led to an improvement in prescribing, at 4 months, 87% met safe prescribing and 56% best practice.Conclusions Despite implementation of a medical education initiative, a marked deterioration in safe opioid prescribing occurred. A shift towards QI methodology led to a successful pilot of focused interventions and resulted in improved standards of safe prescribing. %U https://spcare.bmj.com/content/bmjspcare/early/2022/01/19/bmjspcare-2021-003477.full.pdf