ABSTRACT
Introduction: The opioid epidemic is a growing and significant public health concern in California's Fresno County. To prevent opioid misuse, overdoses, and deaths, health professionals must learn how to work collaboratively to rapidly identify overdose threats, reverse overdoses, link people to effective treatment and reduce harms associated with opioids. A traditional interprofessional in-person workshop was not feasible due to the COVID-19 pandemic;therefore, a virtual interprofessional workshop was developed and implemented. The faculty team who developed the workshop sought to discover if a virtual approach would promote learning and influence participants' attitudes toward opioid overdose. Research Question or Hypothesis: Does a virtual, synchronous, interprofessional workshop impact healthcare professionals' knowledge and attitudes toward opioid misuse? Study Design: A quantitative, quasi-experimental pre and post approach was used. The target population were healthcare professional providers and students. Methods: Participants attended a 4-hour online synchronous workshop focused on opioid overdose and Naloxone training. Firstresponder Naloxone kits were provided through California's Naloxone Distribution Project. Data were collected via an online survey platform using the Opioid Overdose Knowledge Scale (OOKS) using a pre/post method, and the Opioid Overdose Attitudes Scale (OOAS), using a retrospective pre/post method. Data were confirmed to be non-parametric, so Mann-Whitney U tests were performed to compare pre- and post-test OOKS overall score and risk, sign, action, and naloxone use subscales and OOAS overall score and competence, concerns, and readiness subscales (Bonferroni adjusted α=0.006). Results: A total of 80 providers, students, and faculty from a variety of specialties participated. All OOKS and OOAS scores, except the readiness subscale, were significantly improved following the workshop and Naloxone training (p<0.004). Conclusion: A 4-hour online synchronous workshop significantly improved knowledge of and attitudes toward opioid overdose among healthcare professional providers and students. These study findings will inform future curriculum development and enhancement of future virtual programs to efficiently train healthcare professionals about approaching an opioid overdose.