Impact of an innovative pain elective course on student beliefs and attitudes towards opioid medication use

Abstract

Background and purposeTo determine if an innovative elective course in chronic pain management focused on a multimodal treatment approach changed student views on opioid use for chronic, non-cancer pain. Educational activity and settingOffered to students in the second and third professional year, the course focused on various aspects of the treatment and impact of pain. Students completed two major, self-directed projects as well as four reflection journals throughout the semester. A nine question survey was provided to students on the first and last day of class that identified their beliefs and attitudes towards opioid use in chronic non-cancer pain using a five point Likert scale. FindingsThere was a statistical difference in one question asking if long acting opioids were effective in controlling pain long term. SummaryThere was evidence of change in student perceptions. Similar self-directed courses should be considered by other institutions as a means to change student beliefs and attitudes.