Tackling the opioid epidemic: a virtual interprofessional workshop.

Abstract

In response to the growing opioid epidemic in Fresno County, Central California, a virtual interprofessional workshop focusing on opioid misuse and overdose was developed and implemented for health professional providers and students in the local community. The purpose of the research was to evaluate if a four-hour virtual, synchronous interprofessional workshop influenced participants' knowledge and attitudes toward opioid overdose. A quantitative, quasi-experimental pre-post approach was used to evaluate the workshop. Participants attended a 4-hour online synchronous workshop focused on effectively responding to, engaging with, and educating individuals struggling with opioid misuse. The workshop significantly improved knowledge of and attitudes toward opioid overdose among health professional providers and students. The findings inform future curriculum development and enhancement of future virtual programs on how to efficiently train health professionals to approach an opioid overdose.