Background: With support from NIAAA (#4R44AA016724-02) we are developing an online curriculum to educate and enhance clinical skill development in Year 2 to 4 medical students on at risk drinking and alcohol use disorders.

Objective: Medical students were surveyed to understand learning preferences regarding the topics covered and the case-based learning environment.

Program Description: Recruited through a convenience sampling approach, medical students (n=17) completed an on-line survey regarding their interests and perceived needs. Quantitative analyses of responses to multiple choice and 1-5 point Likert scale questions guided development of a case-based online curriculum.

Program Evaluation Outcome: Students felt inadequately prepared [1=not prepared, 5=fully prepared] to address the following: ability to treat alcohol use disorders in patients with other addictions (1.65), ability to treat alcohol use disorders (1.76), ability to treat alcohol use in patients at risk for alcohol use disorders (1.76), ability to triage alcohol use disorder patients to appropriate treatment areas (2.00), recognition and treatment/proper referral of relapse to alcohol use disorders (1.88). Students were most interested in learning more about [1=uninterested, 5=very interested]: brief interventions (3.94), co-morbidities (3.94) and case studies representing a variety of patient experiences (4.41).

Students would likely use an optional live remote Standardized Patient learning experience [1=strongly disagree, 5=strongly agree] (3.41) and would like to have the option available to them (3.53). A Web-based case interface (4.12) and online chat discussion with the patient (3.94) were preferred. Students preferred to learn clinical skills in multiple short cases compared to one long case (77%).

Conclusions: Medical students identify many deficits in their knowledge and skills especially those skills that would be essential in any practice. They express interest in an experience using a live remote standardized patient which would focus on alcohol intervention skills training.

Background: With support from NIDA (#R44-DA12066) we have developed an online curriculum to educate and further clinical skill development in Year 2 to 4 medical students on buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorders.

Objective: To educate medical students about treatment of patients with opioid dependence using buprenorphine and impact clinical skills in working with patients with addictive disorders.

Program Description: We are performing a summative evaluation of our curriculum. Each medical student completed a pre/post test effectiveness evaluation of our online curriculum, including pre/post evaluations of clinical skills through a remote live standardized patient (SP) experience. The OSCE style evaluation of the learner's performance during the remote, live SP clinical encounter was assessed by the SP actor and a MA level clinical professional. Measurement was done via: 1) a 9 item Likert scale rating sheet, and 2) a 16 item done/not done checklist. Both modifications were reviewed and approved by two external clinical substance abuse professionals.

Program Evaluation Outcome: Preliminary results (n=25) of this evaluation indicate that the modules have a statistically significantly effect on knowledge and intended behavior related to treatment of patients with opioid dependence (p<.001). Average pre-knowledge score was 68% while the average post-test score was 83% (p<0.001). Attitude and self-efficacy also increased significantly for most modules. Students showed the most improvement in the areas of common comorbidities and pharmacology. Student competency was measured in the following areas: drug detection and screening, comorbid conditions, diagnosis and treatment. Competency (p<0.0007) increased quite significantly from pre to post experience. Competency scores increased an average of 44% from pre to post-interview.

Conclusions: Based on the preliminary results, this curriculum is an effective tool for educating students on buprenorphine and opioid use disorder. The addition of a standardized patient component pre and post curriculum allows the students an opportunity to better demonstrate an increase in competencies and clinical skill in a more true to life situation.