Assessment of the acute‐ and long‐term application of naloxone training on a simulated overdose response

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionPharmacist training on naloxone is often assessed within a year of initial instruction, however, the retention of the skills necessary in a naloxone rescue beyond this time frame has not been well established.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the acute‐ vs long‐term application of naloxone training on a simulated overdose response.MethodsPharmacy students in their first professional year (P1) were provided asynchronous training on naloxone information and use 2 days prior to a required skills lab. During the lab, students completed an overdose simulation with naloxone response. Students in their third professional year (P3) had a required skills lab focused on substance use disorders at the same time as the P1 lab. These students, who received the same training as the current P1's 2 years prior, completed the same overdose simulation with naloxone response during their scheduled lab time. A checklist from previously published work was used to evaluate student performance during each simulation. Results of the P1 and P3 simulations were compared.ResultsOne hundred percent of P1 students (n = 65) and 97% of P3 students (n = 65) consented to have their data used as part of the study. The median scores for the simulation were 82% (interquartile range [IQR] = 9) for the P1 students and 73% (IQR = 9) for the P3 students (p = 0.58). A significant difference between the groups existed for two items on the checklist: assess the scene is safe (P1 = 52%, P3 = 26%, p = 0.002), and determine if the patient is breathing (P1 = 18%, P3 = 34%, p = 0.04).ConclusionStudents who received initial instruction on naloxone use 2 years prior to a simulated naloxone rescue demonstrated similar results to those who received initial instruction 2 days prior to the same simulation.