Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 8, 2026

E-Patient Counseling Trial E-PACO: Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
Assessing Physician Assistant Student Attitudes and Confidence: The Results of a Substance Use Disorder Curriculum
Cheryl Vanderford1,2,3,4,5, Kristi Collins1,2,3,4,5, Jennifer Zorn1,2,3,4,5
1Cheryl Vanderford, MSPAS, PA-C, is an assistant professor, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
Introduction:
Delivery of physician assistant (PA) substance use disorder (SUD) curricula varies across educational programs. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of a standardized SUD curriculum and to explore PA student attitudes toward and confidence in treating patients with SUD.
Methods:
PA Education Association developed and implemented an 8-hour online SUD module for PA students. Curriculum was designed by a faculty consortium and piloted by students from 20 pilot PA programs (N = 1280, across 2 cohorts). Surveys were administered to all students before starting the curriculum and after completion to collect demographic information, measure attitudes toward SUD, and assess curriculum quality.
Results:
A total of 1280 PA students completed the precurriculum survey and 819 completed the postcurriculum survey. Attitudes toward diagnosis and treatment of SUD and toward patients with SUD improved after module completion on 9 of 12 Likert survey questions. Three Likert questions that infer a reluctance to treat SUD patients decreased slightly in score from precurriculum to postcurriculum surveys.
Discussion:
Physician assistant student attitudes and confidence improved regarding diagnosis, treatment, and perception of those with SUD. The pilot modular curriculum was well received by students and supports distribution of curriculum to a larger population of PA students, and additional data will improve generalizability. Additional studies may include the types of SUD curricula currently offered and impact of curriculum sequencing on effectiveness and attitudinal change.
More Related Videos
05:04Author Spotlight: Evaluating Clinicians' Adoption of Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Cannulation Through Simulation Training
Published on: August 9, 2024
10:17Improving Student Outcomes with an Adaptable Molecular Cloning Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience
Published on: November 15, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Drug Dependence
Drug Administration and Therapy Phases: Overview
The pharmaceutical phase focuses on leveraging the physicochemical properties of the drug to design and manufacture an effective product. Variants include orally administered tablets or capsules, topical creams or ointments, and parenteral-delivery solutions or emulsions.
The pharmacokinetic phase...
Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching I: Assessment and Diagnosis
It is critical to determine the patient's learning needs during the assessment. Determination of learning needs compounds data...
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping