Interprofessional Naloxone Student Training to Manage Suspected Opioid Overdose

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Opioid overdose mortality remains a significant public health concern.
• Effective intervention strategies, including naloxone administration, are crucial.
• Interprofessional education enhances healthcare team collaboration and patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of interprofessional naloxone training on student knowledge, confidence, and collaboration.
• To assess the long-term retention of knowledge and confidence post-training.
• To identify key components of the training for future improvements.

Main Methods:

• A training program involving lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on practice was delivered to interprofessional students.
• Knowledge, confidence, and collaboration competency were measured using pre- and post-training questionnaires.
• A 3-week follow-up assessed knowledge and confidence retention.
• Thematic analysis was used to gather qualitative feedback on the training.

Main Results:

• Participants (N=100) included nursing, physician assistant, and pharmacy students.
• Significant increases in knowledge, confidence, and collaboration scores were observed post-training (P < .001).
• Elevated knowledge and confidence levels persisted at 3 weeks post-training (P < .001).

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional naloxone training effectively enhances healthcare students' preparedness for opioid overdose emergencies.
• The training fosters improved knowledge, confidence, and interprofessional teamwork.
• This educational model can be adapted for various healthcare professionals to improve overdose response and patient outcomes.