Beyond the PowerPoint: Utilizing standardized patients to equip medical students with the skills to identify and manage opioid misuse
Location
Moultrie, GA
Start Date
9-5-2023 1:00 PM
End Date
9-5-2023 4:00 PM
Description
INTRODUCTION: Opioid misuse is a growing public health crisis in the United States, with devastating consequences for individuals, families, and communities. Despite the gravity of the situation, studies have revealed that there is a lack of opioid content in medical education. For example, a 2018 study conducted by the Association of American Medical Colleges examined the curricula of 102 medical schools and found that while 87% of these schools covered pain domains, such as pain assessment, pain management, and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, a consistent approach to education was missing. This deficiency has important implications, as medical students who do not receive adequate training and education will be unprepared to identify and treat opioid misuse in their future practice. One way to address this issue is through the use of standardized patient encounters. Standardized patients have emerged as a valuable tool in medical education, offering simulated patient encounters that allow students to practice and develop their communication and clinical skills.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to design a clinical simulation case that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of integrating standardized patients into medical education, with the goal of preparing medical students to identify and manage opioid misuse in patients. The ultimate aim is to reduce the risk of opioid misuse and associated deaths while improving patient outcomes.
METHODS: We propose to randomly assign medical students to either an intervention group or control group. The intervention group will participate in a standardized patient encounter that simulates a chronic pain patient at risk for opioid misuse. During this encounter, the standardized patient will provide feedback to the student on their communication and clinical skills. The control group will not participate in the SP encounter. Both groups will complete pre- and post-intervention assessments that include surveys on knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy related to addressing opioid misuse in chronic pain patients.
RESULTS: The primary outcome will evaluate the effectiveness of the standardized patient session in enhancing the medical students’ knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy related to preparedness in identifying and addressing opioid misuse in chronic pain patients.
CONCLUSION: This study will generate valuable insight into improving medical education for future physicians in identifying and managing individuals with opioid addiction.
Embargo Period
5-31-2023
Beyond the PowerPoint: Utilizing standardized patients to equip medical students with the skills to identify and manage opioid misuse
Moultrie, GA
INTRODUCTION: Opioid misuse is a growing public health crisis in the United States, with devastating consequences for individuals, families, and communities. Despite the gravity of the situation, studies have revealed that there is a lack of opioid content in medical education. For example, a 2018 study conducted by the Association of American Medical Colleges examined the curricula of 102 medical schools and found that while 87% of these schools covered pain domains, such as pain assessment, pain management, and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, a consistent approach to education was missing. This deficiency has important implications, as medical students who do not receive adequate training and education will be unprepared to identify and treat opioid misuse in their future practice. One way to address this issue is through the use of standardized patient encounters. Standardized patients have emerged as a valuable tool in medical education, offering simulated patient encounters that allow students to practice and develop their communication and clinical skills.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to design a clinical simulation case that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of integrating standardized patients into medical education, with the goal of preparing medical students to identify and manage opioid misuse in patients. The ultimate aim is to reduce the risk of opioid misuse and associated deaths while improving patient outcomes.
METHODS: We propose to randomly assign medical students to either an intervention group or control group. The intervention group will participate in a standardized patient encounter that simulates a chronic pain patient at risk for opioid misuse. During this encounter, the standardized patient will provide feedback to the student on their communication and clinical skills. The control group will not participate in the SP encounter. Both groups will complete pre- and post-intervention assessments that include surveys on knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy related to addressing opioid misuse in chronic pain patients.
RESULTS: The primary outcome will evaluate the effectiveness of the standardized patient session in enhancing the medical students’ knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy related to preparedness in identifying and addressing opioid misuse in chronic pain patients.
CONCLUSION: This study will generate valuable insight into improving medical education for future physicians in identifying and managing individuals with opioid addiction.