Can Targeted Clinical and Psychosocial Support Improve Quality of Life and Help People To Reduce Their Analgesic Use Pre-Operatively? The TAPER2 Project

Multimorbidity and health inequalities are more prevalent in people living in areas of social deprivation. Prolonged use of opioids and gabapentinoids prior to surgery is associated with poorer surgical outcomes, increased risk of complications, and reduced quality of life. In addition, high-dose analgesics are strongly linked to greater post-operative pain and slower recovery. The 2022 TAPER project demonstrated that structured opioid and gabapentinoid deprescribing in primary care was feasible and safe. TAPER2 built on this learning and targeted optimising acute pain control after surgery by addressing pre-operative analgesic use. The project aimed to reduce inappropriate opioid and gabapentin use, improve patient well-being, and enhance surgical readiness by integrating structured medication reviews with social prescribing support.