Differences in Perceived Clinical Knowledge Uptake among Health Profession Students and Licensed Clinicians Receiving Buprenorphine Waiver Training in Oregon

Abstract

Background: Addressing the opioid crisis requires an understanding of how to train both health professional students and practicing clinicians on medications for opioid use disorder (mOUD). We designed a robust evaluation instrument to assess the impact of training on perceived clinical knowledge in these different categories of learners. Methods: We enrolled 3rd and 4th year medical, physician assistant (PA), and nurse practitioner (NP) students, as well as practicing PAs, NPs, and physicians to undertake the Drug Addiction Treatment Act (DATA) Waiver Training for mOUD. We designed and implemented a cross-sectional survey to assess perceived change in clinical knowledge as a result of training in opioid use disorder and satisfaction with training. Results: Twenty-one MD/DO and 45 NP/PA students, and 24 practicing MD/DO and 27 NP/PAs completed the survey. Among health professional students (n = 66) and practicing clinicians (n =51), perceived clinical knowledge scores increased significantly (p < 0.001) for all 13 variables. Program evaluation scores for the buprenorphine waiver training were high with no statistical differences between students and practicing clinicians. Overall, the majority of participants indicated they would recommend the training to a colleague (Students’ score = 4.84; practicing clinician scores = 4.53; scale = strongly disagree = 1 to strongly agree = 5). Conclusions: Our novel instrument allowed us to determine that the implementation of buprenorphine waiver trainings for health professional students and practicing clinicians leads to significant increases in perceived knowledge, interest and confidence in diagnosing and treating OUD. Although the buprenorphine waiver can now be obtained without training, many waivered providers still do not prescribe buprenorphine; integrating training into medical, NP, and PA curriculum for students and offering the training to practicing clinicians may increase confidence and uptake of mOUD.

Opioid Use Disorder Education for Students and the Future of Opioid Overdose Treatment

“…In fact, in 2018, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration started to provide funding for medical schools willing to adjust their curriculum to fulfill waiver training requirements, but only one school has done so [ 10 ]. Some recent pilot studies in the United States have shown that integrating waiver training for medical students does increase knowledge, interest, and confidence in diagnosing and treating OUD [ 16 , 17 ], and calls attention to the need for a standardized, nationwide course, as there is currently none. A key advantage of GW courses is that even though the requirements for buprenorphine prescription have been relaxed, GW can provide mentorship and education in a brief, free, virtual, and interactive setting that boosts confidence and arms clinicians with the tools they need to effectively use their X waiver.…”