Scenario Validation for Opioid Use Disorder Stigma-Related Nursing Simulations.

Background: Six high-fidelity simulations were developed to promote empathetic, evidence-based care devoid of stigma for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). Study aim was to validate simulation scenario and content for accuracy and clinical relevance.

Method: Simulations were video recorded in August 2022 for content validation. Expert assessment was conducted in September 2022 via focus groups using videoconferencing.

Results: A panel of OUD experts that included healthcare providers (n = 10), who were also nurse educators (n = 5) or family members affected by OUD (n = 1), validated simulation content. Thematic analysis identified themes: (a) strategies for enhancing realism, (b) recognition for diverse patients, (c) additional cueing to generate empathetic responses, (d) refining cueing to focus on stigma, (e) recognizing OUD as a chronic illness, (f) novel approach to standardized patients, and (g) limitations of mannequins.

Conclusion: Evaluation of simulations provided content validation increasing the potential effectiveness of the simulations to achieve desired learning outcomes.