Enhancing Addictions Education and Training: An Interprofessional Approach

Overview: This presentation provides an overview of a training program to enhance interprofessional competency for graduate social work and nursing students. Students participate in experiential training focused on treatment of opioid use disorder through prevention, treatment, and recovery services. Field seminar meeting discussions focus on student knowledge, roles and practice experiences.Proposal text: Background/Rationale
In 2019, the graduate nursing and social work programs at our institution were awarded a three-year training grant from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to conduct an opioid workforce enhancement program (OWEP). The program was implemented in a rural southern state where more than 85% of the state is unable to meet behavioral health needs of residents due to health care professional shortages. Rising opioid-related deaths magnified the need to increase access to healthcare for vulnerable populations by expanding the number of providers to treat substance use disorders. OWEP uses an innovative interprofessional model including shared didactic learning, telemedicine and simulation training, and field experiences.

Methods/Methodology
Didactic learning occurs through students’ participation in an addictions course focused on evidence- based interventions in the treatment of substance use disorders. In evaluating an interprofessional addictions course including social work and nursing students, Muzyk et al. (2019) found the course enriched students’ understanding, attitudes, and behaviors toward patients and interprofessional collaboration.

Covid-19 created client barriers including changes in service delivery, social isolation and financial stressors (Mountain-Ray et al., 2021). Lopez-Pelayo et al. (2020) noted use of telemedicine for treatment services increased access for many while creating further isolation for those without technology access. This challenge accelerated adoption of telemedicine visits and increased need to create training around this modality. Telemedicine scenarios simulating addiction treatment and interprofessional teamwork were implemented. Nimmagadda & Murphy (2014) found simulations offer interprofessional skills training to nursing and social work students who develop an appreciation for each other’s roles.

Students were placed in clinical field settings that emphasized interventions in substance abuse and participated in field seminar sessions designed to encourage and foster development of interprofessional practice. The Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice were used to guide discussion on shared values, performance of team roles and advancing patient care through a team approach (Interprofessional Education Collaborative, 2016). Students completed summary assignments at the end of each meeting. Data was collected from the summaries of eleven meetings involving 30 social work and 28 nursing students.

Results
The telemedicine simulations included facilitated debriefing to explore role differences in providing patient care. Faculty found that students appreciated how each discipline contributed to strengthen the individual care plan. Review of the student seminar meeting summaries showed a consisted theme of the intersectionality of addiction and other mental health service provided by both social workers and nurse practitioners. Students stressed the need for open communication and respect between the two professions and noted the need to improve the connectedness between them. Students exhibited an understanding of the roles of each profession, the importance of both in addressing client needs and how working together can achieve better outcomes for client’s overall success.
Conclusions
The OWEP program has supported development of needed skilled health care providers for substance use disorder treatment in a southern rural state. This interprofessional education model fosters appreciation for shared experiences as well as professional differences in treatment approaches and positive experiences which can facilitate improved patient care delivery.