Educating Students About Opioid Use Disorder and Treatments in the Community Using an Educational Video

BACKGROUND: A treatment gap exists for people in the community with opioid use disorders (OUDs). Stigma and lack of knowledge of how to access community resources contribute to this gap. One valuable resource that may help fill this gap is nursing students. PURPOSE: This study examined the impact of an educational video on prelicensure and postlicensure nursing students' knowledge and attitudes toward people with OUD. METHODS: A pre-post study design was used to examine whether 406 nursing students' knowledge and attitudes changed after viewing an educational video. Knowledge and attitudes were measured by an online survey, consisting of demographics, an 8-item Knowledge and Attitudes survey, and the Drug and Drug Problems Perceptions Questionnaire. RESULTS: The educational video produced a statistically significant positive improvement on nursing students' knowledge and attitudes. CONCLUSION: Educating nursing students about OUD and treatment options can help reduce stigma and improve care toward people with OUD.