Outcomes and Feedback

Students indicated that because of the visit they believed almost one-fourth of pharmacists would start to dispense naloxone without a prescription (n=19, 24%), almost half would begin to provide opioid overdose education (n=35, 45%), and one-third would now demonstrate how to properly use naloxone (n=26, 33%). Most students found this experience to be beneficial (n=67, 84%) and indicated they would like to participate in this service again (n=45, 56%). In addition, 70% (n=56) and 75% (n=70) of students’ perception of naloxone and opioid use disorder, respectively, changed as a result of this experience. Of the 83 student pharmacists who responded to the survey, 10% (n=8) reported that they perceived that the pharmacist would start stocking naloxone, almost 50% (n=35, 46%) would begin providing opioid overdose education, and almost one-quarter (n=19, 24%) would begin dispensing naloxone without a prescription as a result of the student academic detailing visit with their preceptor.

The open-ended responses on the post-visit survey further supported the value of the layered learning method and those involved found this to be a beneficial experience. Examples of student reflections include:

• “From this experience I not only learned something, but I find using this teaching method really helps me learn the information.”
• “Before this program I was a fan of naloxone but I feared some people would use it as a lifesaver to abuse even more. This program taught me that is not true.”
• “My preceptor found this very interesting as they had wanted to do this in the past and finances held them back, but I was able to problem-solve and figure out how they could help their community.”
• “I was actually able to use the explanation of an "Epi-pen®" [ “prescribing naloxone is like prescribing an Epi-pen® to someone with a food allergy”]to a patient to get him to pick up his Rx for the Narcan along with his opioid. “
• “The PIC [pharmacist-in-charge] was very enthused by this and seemed to want to implement it in the pharmacy.”
• “My preceptor asked a lot of question regarding naloxone and the law allowing pharmacist to dispense it.”

Advice and Lessons Learned

This experience was a perfect opportunity for preceptor's to complete their controlled substance requirement for the year. It was an innovative and unique way for both pharmacists and students to learn evidence-based information on naloxone, laws in South Carolina for naloxone dispensing, and opioid overdose education. Extending academic detailing services through students was also a unique way to build student confidence in sharing their knowledge with preceptors.

About the Organization

Our organization is made up of two colleges of pharmacy and an academic detailing service in South Carolina. The organization is made up of the College of Pharmacy at the Medical University of South Carolina, educating outstanding pharmacists in South Carolina for over 100 years, Presbyterian College of Pharmacy, where service is at the forefront of the school's commitment to students and the community, and an academic detailing service, SCORxE (South Carolina Offering Prescribing Excellence), housed at the Medical University of South Carolina, whose mission is to improve the quality of healthcare in South Carolina through individualized educational outreach to healthcare providers.

About the Authors

Elizabeth D. Weed, MSW, PharmD, BCPP is the Director of Experiential Education at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Pharmacy. As a former academic detailer for the South Carolina Offering Prescribing Excellence (SCORxE) service, she was aware that academic detailing could offer students an opportunity to build confidence, educate preceptors on naloxone, offer continuing education, and provide a unique learning experience on opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution for both preceptors and students. Her current position allows her the opportunity to implement innovative educational strategies for both pharmacy preceptors and students.

Talisha P. Ratliff, PharmD serves as the Assistant Dean of Experiential Education at Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy. As a former Pharmacist-In-Charge at an Opioid Treatment Program, Talisha witnessed the need to highlight awareness and provide support for patients struggling with Opioid Use Disorder. Her current role allows her to educate more students and preceptors about the impact that pharmacists can have on the fight against opioids.

Megan Pruitt, PharmD and Lauren Linder Wier, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP are a clinical pharmacy consultants for the SCORxE academic detailing (AD) service. They provide academic detailing visits to primary care providers in SC on various clinical topics to promote appropriate medication use in response to the opioid crisis and develop evidence-based oral and print content to support AD visit.