The Development of an Opioid Misuse Training Program for Physical Therapists: A Learning Community Approach

John Magel; Elizabeth Siantz; Priscilla Blosser; Julie M Fritz; Adam J Gordon

doi:10.1097/JTE.0000000000000343

The Development of an Opioid Misuse Training Program for Physical Therapists: A Learning Community Approach

J Phys Ther Educ. 2024 May 14. doi: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000343. Online ahead of print.

Authors

John Magel^{1

2

3

4

5}, Elizabeth Siantz^{1

2

3

4

5}, Priscilla Blosser^{1

2

3

4

5}, Julie M Fritz^{1

2

3

4

5}, Adam J Gordon^{1

2

3

4

5}

Affiliations

¹ John Magel is the research associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training at the University of Utah, 520 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108 (jake.magel@hsc.utah.edu). Please address all correspondence to John Magel.
² Elizabeth Siantz is assistant professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Utah.
³ Priscilla Blosser is study coordinator in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah.
⁴ Julie M. Fritz is distinguished professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training at the University of Utah.
⁵ Adam J. Gordon is professor in the Program for Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge and Advocacy (PARCKA) and Greater Intermountain Node (GIN) of the NIDA Clinical Trials Network in the Division of Epidemiology in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine.

PMID: 38739432
DOI: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000343

Abstract

Introduction: Musculoskeletal pain and opioid misuse frequently co-occur.

Review of the literature: The US Preventive Services Task Force calls for all health care providers to be trained to screen for misuse and/or opioid use disorder. The purpose of this study was to develop and implement an opioid misuse training program that could be used by physical therapists.

Subjects: Thirteen practicing physical therapists were invited to participate in a curriculum development project.

Methods: Using the Curriculum Framework, a collaborative learning approach was used to develop an opioid misuse training program and training manual for physical therapists. Four training sessions were provided virtually every 2 weeks. Topics included an introduction to the opioid crisis, screening, assessing, and communicating with patients and with the health care team about opioid misuse. Each didactic session was followed by a participant feedback session where participants provided recommendations on improving the training content and their impressions on the barriers and facilitators to incorporating the training into practice. A companion training manual was created and sent to participants for comment. Participants were asked over email to describe whether and how they incorporated training materials into clinical practice during the training curriculum.

Results: All participants attended sessions 1-3. Twelve (92.3%) attended the fourth session. Based on the participants' feedback, training sessions were edited, and a companion training manual was finalized and distributed to each participant. After the fourth session, 9 participants (69.2%) reported using what they learned in the training. During the participant feedback sessions, participants regarded the training as important. Some participants expressed barriers to discussing opioids with patients and concerns about whether the training was within physical therapists' scope of practice.

Discussion and conclusion: An iteratively developed training program for physical therapists to address opioid misuse was acceptable, feasible, and provided immediate practice change by most participants.

Abstract

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