(83) Implementation of Core Competencies in Addiction, Opioids, and Pain Management at Virginia pharmacy schools

Objective : In 2018 the Virginia Department of Health Professions developed the Virginia Core Competencies in Addiction, Pain Management, and Opioid Prescribing to be used as a framework for developing curricula for health professions learners, including student pharmacists. This project aimed to determine the depth of implementation of these competencies in the curricula of pharmacy schools in Virginia five years later.

Methods: The content of curricula related to addiction, opioids, and pain management from Appalachian College of Pharmacy, Shenandoah University School of Pharmacy, and Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy were mapped to each core competency statement. Measures included the total number of hours devoted to each topic area, the method of content delivery, application of content and assessment method.

Results: The total number of hours devoted to each topic varied at each institution (range: 20 - 34 total hours). All 3 schools consistently delivered content related to the opioid crisis, the science, recognition and treatment of addiction, overdose prevention and pain management. All 3 schools recognized the need for improvement in teaching about the prevalence of co-occurring mental health disorders, the spiritual aspects of addiction, special populations at higher risk of addiction, the role of family and social institutions in prevention and early intervention, management of patients in recovery, application of motivational interviewing to addiction, and strategies for difficult conversations.

Conclusions: Mapping of the curricula raised awareness of inconsistencies in topics taught across the three schools of pharmacy. Without intentional integration of content, such statewide competency initiatives will not be successful in their aim to consistently educate students. Colleagues at each school are working together to develop content in those areas where improvement is needed.