Objective Structured Clinical Examination Skill Station Is Effective for Assessing Acute Opioid Overdose Resuscitation

Abrams, Matthew P.; Klapheke, Martin

Introduction In recent decades, deaths related to heroin, illicit fentanyl, and prescription opioids have risen in the United States. Utilizing new clinical guidelines and non-prescription naloxone, we aimed to develop a competency-based assessment for clinical skills in opioid overdose resuscitation outside of the hospital setting. Methods An assessment of opioid resuscitation skills, consisting of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) skill station-utilizing a simulation mannequin and a standardized patient portraying the patient´s relative-followed by a facilitated individual debrief, was added to the fourth year Psychiatry Boot Camp for students entering a psychiatry residency. A survey was given to students to assess the OSCE´s believability, value, and impact on confidence in managing out-of-hospital overdose. Results Following the OSCE, 2017-2019 graduating students entering a psychiatry residency (N=10) all agreed or strongly agreed that the OSCE "was realistic and believable" and "was valuable as an educational tool. Most either agreed (N=7) or strongly agreed (N=1) they felt confident of their skill in managing out-of-hospital opioid overdose. A small number (n=2) were neutral in the confidence of their skill in managing out-of-hospital opioid overdose. Discussion Based on early medical student feedback (n=10), this OSCE skill station provides a promising competency-based assessment for opioid overdose resuscitation outside of the hospital setting. Its use could be expanded to other medical disciplines in undergraduate and graduate education.