Project Title: Emergency Department Nurse Knowledge and Perspectives Surrounding Opioid Use Disorder
Project Title: Emergency Department Nurse Knowledge and Perspectives Surrounding Opioid Use Disorder
Student name: Jill DeSa
Date of Defense: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Time: 1pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Zoom: Contact dhoffman@umassd.edu for link
Faculty Mentor: Martha M. Whitfield, PhD, APRN
Second Reader: Monika Schuler, PhD, FNP-BC, CNE
Clinical site mentor: Nicole Howley, RN
Abstract:
Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a public health emergency. Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), such as buprenorphine, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of OUD yet is underutilized. Emergency department (ED) initiated buprenorphine is recommended by the American Academy of Emergency Physicians for the treatment of opioid withdrawal, but prescribing remains low. ED nurses are often the first healthcare professionals to see patients on arrival, offering valuable opportunity for the early identification and prioritized care for patients experiencing opioid withdrawal. Moreover, ED nurses are well positioned to promote addiction treatment through advocacy and education. Lack of training and stigmatizing attitudes are perceived barriers to addiction care. Workplace education can reduce stigma and improve MOUD delivery.
Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to determine how virtual education affects ED nurse knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions towards addiction treatment.
Methods: This project took place in three community hospitals in Southeastern Massachusetts. Participants completed the Knowledge and Attitudes questionnaire to measure buprenorphine knowledge and attitudes surrounding the treatment of opioid withdrawal. A contemporary version of the Drug and Drug Problems Perceptions Questionnaire was used to measure perceptions towards OUD, before and after educational intervention. Independent t-test were used to analyze pre and post Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions scores.
Outcome: Results for Attitudes were statistically significant (p = < .05), indicating there was a significant difference in nurse attitudes surrounding MOUD treatment between pre and post groups. There was significant improvement with perceived ability to recognize opioid withdrawal (p = .001), and perceptions towards advocating for buprenorphine in the ED (p = .014). Improvements in post group Knowledge and Perceptions related to Role Adequacy, Role Support and Role Satisfaction were noted, but not significant (p > .05). Perceptions related to Role Legitimacy, Role Self-Esteem and total Perception scores were not statistically significant (p > .05).
Conclusions and Implications: Workplace education can improve nurse attitudes towards addiction treatment in the ED setting, enhancing patient care. Future work should examine the impact education has on long-term outcomes, such as nurse behavior change and MOUD utilization.
ZOOM
Deanna Hoffman
dhoffman@umassd.edu