Using Adolescent SBIRT With Simulation to Teach Nursing Students Substance Use Assessment

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Public Health
• Substance Use Disorders

Background:

• Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based protocol for early identification and treatment of substance use.
• Adolescents represent a high-risk demographic for substance use, necessitating effective intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of an SBIRT simulation on nursing students' skills and confidence in addressing adolescent substance use.
• To compare the effectiveness of SBIRT simulation between traditional undergraduate and postbaccalaureate nursing students.

Main Methods:

• A simulation-based training on SBIRT was conducted with 79 nursing students.
• Surveys assessing attitude, role security, knowledge, confidence, competence, and readiness were administered pre-simulation, immediately post-simulation, and 3 weeks later.
• Outcomes were compared between traditional undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students, with the former receiving additional educational reinforcement.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in attitude, role security, knowledge, confidence, competence, readiness, and scenario response were observed post-simulation (p < .005).
• Outcomes remained consistent between traditional undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students at both posttest time points.
• Educational reinforcement maintained positive outcomes in the traditional undergraduate group.

Conclusions:

• SBIRT simulation effectively enhances nursing students' capacity to manage adolescent substance use.
• The observed improvements in skills and confidence are sustained with educational reinforcement, potentially improving intervention success in adolescent populations.