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Table 3 Learner perceptions of gains in knowledge

From: Developing a national undergraduate medical education pain management and substance use disorder curriculum to address the opioid crisis: a program evaluation pilot study

 Topic  

Learning Objective

I am able to..

Pre-Program

Post-Program

 

Mean

(SD)

Mean

(SD)

t

Effect Size (Cohen’s D)

%

change

2.2

Describe and interpret the recommendations pertaining to optimization of non-opioid and opioid therapy in the 2017 Canadian Guideline for Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain.

2.70 (1.18)

5.21 (0.67)

22.681*

1.006

92.96

Evaluate whether a patient is eligible for opioid therapy to manage their chronic pain.

2.62 (1.08)

5.10 (0.65)

24.243*

0.925

94.66

Describe how to initiate an opioid trial in a patient with chronic pain and evaluate whether the trial is working.

2.45 (1.13)

5.10 (0.65)

25.114*

0.959

108.16

3

List the four major types of receptor modulation by opioid drugs.

2.55 (1.13)

4.79 (0.98)

17.879*

1.071

87.84

4.1

Describe and apply the entire opioid prescribing cascade, including initiation, titration, switching, and opioid tapering.

2.38 (1.19)

5.23 (0.67)

25.699*

1.013

119.75

4.2

Describe the use of opioids to manage dyspnea and cough.

2.86 (1.21)

5.22 (0.62)

21.612*

1.010

82.52

Evaluate goals of care and symptom management of people receiving palliative care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2.85 (1.23)

5.26 (0.62)

21.835*

1.024

84.56

4.3

Name three key messages to help patients understand safe opioid storage and proper disposal practices.

2.75 (1.20)

5.53 (0.57)

26.182*

0.989

101.09

5.2

Describe basic differences between the medications used for OAT.

2.89 (1.25)

5.39 (0.64)

22.128*

1.045

86.51

Identify and treat opioid withdrawal using appropriate strategies.

2.90 (1.24)

5.25 (0.73)

20.021*

1.061

81.03

6

Discuss the use of opioids in women, particularly those who are pregnant or breast feeding.

2.54 (1.15)

5.28 (0.67)

25.375*

0.983

107.87

Describe the legal parameters for the prescription of opioids in the jurisdiction of my future practice.

2.43 (1.11)

4.77 (0.92)

19.379*

1.036

96.23

Review best practices in the management of patients using opioids according to the CMPA.

2.76 (1.20)

4.97 (0.83)

18.446*

1.062

80.07

Discuss the factors in determining whether a patient on opiates may drive a car.

2.44 (1.06)

5.19 (0.73)

25.953*

0.936

112.71

Describe three strategies to maintain competence in the treatment of pain within my future practice.

2.54 (1.09)

5.14 (0.68)

24.666*

0.944

102.36

Discuss how I will monitor my practice to manage patients with issues of substance misuse.

2.62 (1.13)

5.11 (0.70)

22.972*

0.977

95.04

Outline how to audit my practice of prescribing opioids.

2.26 (1.09)

4.90 (0.85)

23.007*

0.994

116.81

  1. Notes: [1]. *Differences between pre- and post-training scores were tested at p < 0.05
  2. [2]. Percentage change calculations were based on pre- and post-training scores
  3. [3]. Cohen’s D uses the pooled standard deviation in calculating effect size
  4. [4]. Percent of improvements are shown for only learning objectives with greater than 80% improvement in perceived knowledge
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BMC Medical Education

ISSN: 1472-6920

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