“The opioid epidemic has raged on despite the development of evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorders,” explained Kimberly Hu, MD, at the 2022 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting. “About 70% of the nearly 71,000 drug overdose deaths in 8 states involved opioids. That’s a huge, staggering number.”
Recognizing the role that insufficient access to medications plays in this epidemic, Hu and colleagues at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, designed and implemented an opioid use disorder (OUD) curriculum for third-year medical students….
A follow-up study at the end of the year also provided positive feedback. Hu reported: “83% [of the participants] said that they felt they knew how to manage acute pain, about 62% felt that they knew how to manage chronic pain, and about 77% said that they knew how to screen the patient for opioid use disorder.” This is important no matter which specialty the students pursue, as these students will be able to “link patients with resources early and make sure that there aren’t patients slipping through the cracks,” Hu explained.
She noted that educating third-year medical students gives them—and their future patients—an advantage. “They’re a little over halfway through medical school, and then they’ll go into residency in a number of different specialties. So giving them this knowledge early helps them to incorporate [the information and skills] as they continue their training.”
Hu noted that the educational program is ongoing and supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Her study co-authors included Julie Niedermier, MD; Amanda Start, PhD; Casia Horseman, MD; and Julie Teater, MD.
“If we can educate the next generation physicians and increase access to care, this is one way we can combat the opioid crisis,” Hu concluded.
Reposted from source https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/new-weapon-in-the-fight-against-opioid-use-disorders
Early Training of Medical Students Helps Fight Opioid Use Disorders
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Posted: August 3, 2022 by drmoea
“The opioid epidemic has raged on despite the development of evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorders,” explained Kimberly Hu, MD, at the 2022 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting. “About 70% of the nearly 71,000 drug overdose deaths in 8 states involved opioids. That’s a huge, staggering number.”
Recognizing the role that insufficient access to medications plays in this epidemic, Hu and colleagues at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, designed and implemented an opioid use disorder (OUD) curriculum for third-year medical students….
A follow-up study at the end of the year also provided positive feedback. Hu reported: “83% [of the participants] said that they felt they knew how to manage acute pain, about 62% felt that they knew how to manage chronic pain, and about 77% said that they knew how to screen the patient for opioid use disorder.” This is important no matter which specialty the students pursue, as these students will be able to “link patients with resources early and make sure that there aren’t patients slipping through the cracks,” Hu explained.
She noted that educating third-year medical students gives them—and their future patients—an advantage. “They’re a little over halfway through medical school, and then they’ll go into residency in a number of different specialties. So giving them this knowledge early helps them to incorporate [the information and skills] as they continue their training.”
Hu noted that the educational program is ongoing and supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Her study co-authors included Julie Niedermier, MD; Amanda Start, PhD; Casia Horseman, MD; and Julie Teater, MD.
“If we can educate the next generation physicians and increase access to care, this is one way we can combat the opioid crisis,” Hu concluded.
Reposted from source https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/new-weapon-in-the-fight-against-opioid-use-disorders
Category: Blog Tags: curriculum for opioid use, drop the drugs, education on drug misuse and abuse, education on opioids, medical students and opioids, opioid use disorger