Browsing by Author "Blazar, Melinda"

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    Addressing the Opioid Crisis: A Dynamic Case-Based Module Set for Interprofessional Educators, Learners, and Clinicians.
    (MedEdPORTAL : the journal of teaching and learning resources, 2022-01) Porter, Rachel; Barnett, Jacqueline; Blazar, Melinda; Pinheiro, Sandro; Bowlby, Lynn

    Introduction

    In 2017, the opioid crisis was declared a public health emergency in the United States. The CDC has called for a multifaceted, collaborative approach to address the opioid epidemic. Though many resources have been made available for provider education, much of what has been published to date has focused narrowly on specific contexts and/or has become outdated.

    Methods

    To address the need for more up-to-date and broad-based training, we designed a dynamic, module-based curriculum aligned with the 2016 CDC Opioid Prescribing Guideline. The three-part module set addresses safe opioid prescribing, recognizing and treating opioid use disorders, and opioids and pain management. Each module contains interactive content and assessments and culminates in case-based applications. The modules provide an anchor point for supplemental activities that can be utilized in various contexts.

    Results

    As of May 2021, we recorded 3,529 module completions (≥80% performance on module assessments). A 6-month follow-up survey revealed that the majority of respondents had used the strategies they had learned to improve their prescribing practice and believed they had improved outcomes for patients.

    Discussion

    The modules and supplementary resources can be used by clinicians and educators to combat the opioid epidemic with best practices in patient care and by meeting many state licensure requirements. Included supplemental resources are ideal for learners, providing a comprehensive understanding of the opioid crisis as well as tools for medication-assisted treatment that create capacity to immediately address these issues once learners become fully licensed.
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    Physician Assistant Program Policies to Assess and Address Student Reports of Mistreatment During Clinical Training.
    (The journal of physician assistant education : the official journal of the Physician Assistant Education Association, 2022-09) Hudak, Nicholas M; Blazar, Melinda; Knudsen, Nancy W

    Introduction

    Many physician assistant (PA) students experience mistreatment in clinical learning environments, and accredited PA programs are required to define, publish, and make readily available policies and procedures for student reports of mistreatment. The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence, content, and dissemination of program policies to address students' reports of mistreatment involving preceptors during supervised clinical experiences.

    Methods

    To conduct a national policy analysis, the investigators included 10 new survey items in the 2019 Physician Assistant Education Association annual program survey. Deidentified data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics.

    Results

    The program response rate to the survey items was 99% (232). Approximately 76% of PA programs reported having a learner mistreatment policy. Policy content across programs varied widely, and several student reporting mechanisms were available. Program directors, clinical faculty, and institutional leadership were most likely to be involved in the management of reports. A majority programs actively assessed for mistreatment and most did so through clinical course evaluations and at the end of each clinical phase course. Most programs disseminated information about policy to faculty, students, and preceptors at least once a year.

    Discussion

    The descriptions of policy content, procedures, and dissemination increase educators' understanding of current policies across PA programs in the context of renewed efforts to write or revise policy that is specific to mistreatment. The authors discuss key policy priorities to define mistreatment, offer a range of confidential reporting mechanisms, review the management of reports, and consider how to optimize dissemination strategies.