Evaluating an interprofessional curriculum: Educational strategies for addressing opioid use disorder

Patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) represent a complex population that benefits from interprofessional care. Educating future providers of medications for OUD (MOUD) regarding the benefits of interprofessional care provides an opportunity to improve patient outcomes. We describe the delivery and impact of a 3.5-hour interprofessional education (IPE) OUD case-based workshop for nurse practitioner (NP), physician assistant, medical, and social work students related to MOUD knowledge, confidence in treating OUD, and attitude toward MOUD. In 2024, 231 students from four disciplines attended the workshop, with 170 completing pre- and postsurveys (73.6% response rate) of knowledge, confidence, and attitudes toward OUD. Paired sample t -tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (with adjusted p values) showed significant improvements in all measured domains. Free-response feedback was positive, with requests to broaden participation to include pharmacy students and persons in recovery. Findings indicate that students benefit from IPE workshop delivery, leading to improvements in their role on IPE teams and increased confidence treating OUD. This study underscores the critical role of NP students in interprofessional learning environments, particularly in treating complex conditions such as OUD. Early IPE prepares NP students to lead and thrive in real-world settings, where teamwork is essential in delivering high-quality care for OUD patients.