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

Abstract

Introduction Pharmacist 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. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the acute‐ vs long‐term application of naloxone training on a simulated overdose response. Methods Pharmacy 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. Results One 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). Conclusion Students 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.