RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Variability in opioid pain medication prescribing for adolescent trauma patients in a sample of US pediatric trauma centers JF Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open JO Trauma Surg Acute Care Open FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP e000894 DO 10.1136/tsaco-2022-000894 VO 7 IS 1 A1 Michael J Mello A1 Janette Baird A1 Julie R Bromberg A1 Anthony Spirito A1 Mark R Zonfrillo A1 Lois K Lee A1 Emily R Christison-Lagay A1 Stephanie M Ruest A1 Charles W Pruitt A1 Karla A Lawson A1 Andrew W Kiragu A1 Isam Nasr A1 Jeremy T Aidlen A1 Beth E Ebel A1 R Todd Maxson A1 Kelli Scott A1 Sara J Becker YR 2022 UL http://tsaco.bmj.com/content/7/1/e000894.abstract AB Objectives The primary objective of this study was to examine opioid prescription frequency and identify differences across a national cohort of pediatric trauma centers in rates of prescribing opioids to injured adolescents at discharge.Methods This was a retrospective observational study using electronic health records of injured adolescents (12–17 years) admitted to one of 10 pediatric trauma centers.Results Of the 1345 electronic health records abstracted, 720 (53.5%, 95% CI 50.8 to 56.2) patients received opioid prescriptions at discharge with variability across sites (28.6%–72%). There was no association between patient factors and frequency of prescribing opioids. Center’s trauma volume was significantly positively correlated with a higher rate of opioid prescribing at discharge (r=0.92, p=0.001). There was no significant difference between the frequency of opioid prescriptions at discharge among alcohol and other drugs (AOD)-positive patients (53.8%) compared with AOD-negative patients (53.5%).Conclusions Across a sample of 10 pediatric trauma centers, just over half of adolescent trauma patients received an opioid prescription at discharge. Prescribing rates were similar for adolescent patients screening positive for AOD use and those screening negative. The only factor associated with a higher frequency of prescribing was trauma center volume. Consensus and dissemination of outpatient pain management best practices for adolescent trauma patients is warranted.Level of evidence III—prognostic.Trial registration number NCT03297060.Data are available on reasonable request. Dataset available on reasonable request.