American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 2025/01, 82(S1):S2602. doi: 10.1093/ajhp/zxae345, type of study: ,ppt,

Full text    (https://academic.oup.com/ajhp/article/82/Supplement_1/S1/7945688)

Keywords:

addiction [17]
attitude [170]
drugs [33]
harm reduction [1]
knowledge [67]
medical students [693]
opioids [44]
osteopathic medicine [2108]
pretest posttest design [241]
programs [139]
USA [1751]

Abstract:

Purpose: In 2022 Louisiana ranked 4th in opioid overdose deaths and yearly ranks above the national average in opioid prescription rates. This indicates a need for education in harm reduction, opioid misuse, and the provision of harm reduction tools to key healthcare providers. The ULM H.E.R.O. program provides an adaptable risk-reduction curriculum tailored to diverse types of healthcare students in training, which could prove invaluable as these future professionals enter the work field. The purpose of this study is to assess the changes in attitude, knowledge, and preparedness of healthcare students pre-and post-H. E.R.O provided by this grant funded program. Methods: In this IRB approved investigational study healthcare students were recruited through e-mail to participate in a voluntary substance use disorder and harm reduction education class. A PowerPoint presentation that included various active learning techniques was utilized. The following healthcare programs were included: pharmacy, nursing, medical doctors (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic medicine (DO), dental hygiene, health studies, marriage/family therapy, med lab sciences, physical therapy, occupational therapy, radiology tech, and speech language pathology. Informed consent was completed at the start of the education session. Demographic data collected included age, gender, race, sexual orientation, healthcare profession, and last opioid overdose reversal experience. The pre-survey and post survey included two validated scales, the Opioid Overdose Knowledge Scale (OOKS) and the Opioid Overdose Attitude Scale (OOAS). The program consisted of an introduction to common opioids of abuse, medical facts, benefits and concerns of administering opioid reversal medications, Louisiana legislation, overdose risk factors and symptom recognition, protocol of administration opioid reversal medications, fentanyl test strip demonstrations, and a simulated opioid overdose scenario on a mannequin. Each participant received a harm reduction kit. Results: 223 participants from different healthcare disciplines (50 Pharm.D., 68 MD/DO, 105 other disciplines combined) completed the training and the surveys provided. The OOKS showed a significant (p< 0.001) change in mean knowledge between the pre-survey (42.98) vs. post-survey (46.48). 219 participants completed the OOAS with a mean score increase of +18.92. The competencies of managing an overdose sub-scale of the OOAS showed the largest increase of the 3 subscales with a pre-survey of 28.58 and post-survey of 41.00 (+12.42, p <.001). Conclusion: Overall, participants knowledge and attitudes of harm reduction and opioid overdose response significantly increased. The competency sub-scale of the OOAS exhibited the largest positive change. There was less contribution from concerns of readiness, which is in line with previous research on the subject. The findings of our study indicate the H.E.R.O program can be used successfully in pharmacy, MD/DO, and other healthcare students.