An Interactive Online Interprofessional Opioid Education Training Using Standardized Patients.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pain Management
• Digital Health

Background:

• Opioid pain management is complex and necessitates a collaborative, interprofessional approach.
• Preparing health professions students for chronic pain management, including potential opioid misuse, is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a virtual interprofessional education (IPE) session for health professions students.
• To enhance students' ability to manage patients with chronic pain and potential opioid misuse through standardized patient (SP) interaction.

Main Methods:

• An interprofessional education (IPE) session was delivered virtually using a standardized patient (SP) interaction.
• Health professions students collaborated in teams to develop holistic care plans for a simulated patient with chronic low back pain on opioids.
• Pre- and post-session surveys were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the virtual IPE session.

Main Results:

• Over 750 students from medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and social work participated in the virtual IPE sessions.
• Students reported positive evaluations of the session, with suggested improvements in confidence in knowledge and skills.
• The virtual learning format, specifically via Zoom, was rated favorably by participants.

Conclusions:

• A synchronous online IPE session incorporating SP interactions was successfully implemented.
• The virtual delivery model proved effective for training students in team-based care for complex pain and opioid management.
• Future IPE sessions will continue to be delivered virtually based on this successful implementation.