Opioid Overdose Simulation in Medical Student Education

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine
• Toxicology

Background:

• The opioid epidemic has drastically increased opioid overdose cases and deaths, making emergency departments a critical frontline for intervention.
• Rapid recognition and timely Naloxone administration are vital for saving lives during opioid overdoses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a high-fidelity simulation in enhancing third-year medical students' ability to recognize and manage opioid overdoses.
• To assess improvements in students' confidence and knowledge regarding opioid overdose treatment, including Naloxone administration.

Main Methods:

• A high-fidelity simulation scenario of an opioid overdose was integrated into an emergency medicine clerkship.
• Medical students participated in the simulation, practicing recognition and treatment of opioid overdose.
• Pre- and post-simulation surveys using 5-point Likert scales measured changes in learners' confidence and perceived competence.

Main Results:

• The simulation led to significant improvements in learners' confidence and knowledge across all assessed domains.
• Post-simulation surveys indicated marked gains in the ability to recognize, manage, and treat opioid overdoses.
• Students demonstrated increased competence in administering Naloxone and performing basic life support interventions.

Conclusions:

• High-fidelity simulation is a highly effective educational tool for teaching critical emergency medicine skills related to opioid overdose.
• The simulation successfully prepared medical students to manage opioid overdose cases with increased confidence and competence.
• This training approach has the potential to reduce opioid-related mortality by equipping future healthcare providers with essential skills.