Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

2-11-2026

Comments

Presented at the 2026 Scholarly Inquiry (SI) Research Project Symposium.

Abstract

Introduction: Opioid related deaths are a leading cause of death in adults in the United States and Thomas Jefferson University equips each first year medical student (M1) with a box of Narcan at the White Coat Ceremony. Research has shown that there are knowledge and training gaps in M1s and harmful stigmas surrounding drug users. This project examines how we might provide an education-focused opioid overdose response kit and intervention for JeffMD M1s in order to reduce stigma and improve clinical readiness for drug-related emergencies.

Methods: Class of 2029 M1s will take a pre-post survey to capture the baseline level of confidence and stigma, once prior to the ceremony and then again after the clinical skills (CS)session where students are educated on naloxone. The survey includes two validated tools, the Opioid Overdose Knowledge Scale (OOKS) and Opioid Overdose Attitude Scale (OOAS), to assess an individual’s knowledge of opioid overdose, competence, concerns about intervening, and readiness/willingness to intervene.

Results: Paired analysis of pre-post survey depicts positive trends for both the OOKS and OOAS, with p values of 0.0002 and 0.0016, and a larger improvement seen in those who had no experience with an opioid overdose compared to those with prior exposure. Of note, there was a negative trend seen in the readiness to intervene subcategory.

Discussion/ Conclusions: The data, although a small sample size, shows improvement in M1s’knowledge and attitude towards opioid overdoses. However, student’s readiness to interveneshows a decline, highlighting the need for improved education and an opioid emergency kit.These materials will aim to increase students’ confidence and competence while humanizingdrug users and reducing stigma.

Language

English

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