Date on Paper
8-2019
Document Type
Doctoral Paper
Degree Name
D.N.P.
Department
Nursing
Committee Chair
Ruth Staten
Committee Member
Mary-Beth Coty
Author's Keywords
opioid use disorder, substance use disorder, primary care, stigma, social capital, attitudes, nursing education, therapeutic relationship
Abstract
Background: In the United States, more people die from drug overdoses related to increased heroin and fentanyl use than homicides and car accidents combined (Sederer & Marino, 2018). Frustrations and negative perceptions (stigma) on behalf of primary healthcare providers may result in negative health outcomes for patients, poor therapeutic relationships and lack of opportunity to engage clients in substance use treatment (Khenti et al., 2017).
Purpose: The purpose of this project was to implement a contact-didactic education module to improve adult gerontology primary care (AGPCNP) and family nurse practitioner (FNP) students’ attitudes towards OUD patients, and to increase their therapeutic commitment to and confidence in working with patients seeking primary care treatment with co-occurring opioid use disorders.
Methods: The project utilized a pre and post-test design. The Drug and Drug Problems Questionnaire (DDPPQ) and a nurse practitioner confidence scale (NPCS) were administered pre and post intervention to AGPCNP and FNP students finishing their second year of a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.
Significance: The implemented education module resulted in statistically significant decrease in scores on the DDPPQ, indicating reduced stigma, and increased NPCS scores indicating increased confidence. A statistically significant inverse correlation was noted between NPCS scores and DDPPQ scores.
Recommended Citation
Hannon, Christopher T., "Increasing the confidence of primary care nurse practitioner students in caring for patients with preexisting opioid use disorder." (2019). Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers. Paper 11.
Retrieved from https://ir.library.louisville.edu/dnp/11
