Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MC 7793, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA.
Harm Reduct J. 2023 Mar 24;20(1):37. doi: 10.1186/s12954-023-00769-y.
Distribution of naloxone and training on its proper use are evidence-based strategies for preventing opioid overdose deaths. In-person naloxone training was conducted in major metropolitan areas and urban centers across Texas as part of a state-wide targeted opioid response program. The training program transitioned to a live, virtual format during the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration. This manuscript describes the impact of this transition through analyses of the characteristics of communities reached using the new virtual training format.
Training participant addresses were compared to county rates of opioid overdose deaths and broadband internet access, and census block comparison to health services shortages, rural designation, and race/ethnicity community characteristics.
The virtual training format reached more learners than the in-person events. Training reached nearly half of the counties in Texas, including all with recent opioid overdose deaths. Most participants lived in communities with a shortage of health service providers, and training reached rural areas, those with limited broadband internet availability, and majority Hispanic communities. In the context of restrictions on in-person gathering, the training program successfully shifted to a live, online format. This transition increased participation above rates observed pre-pandemic and reached communities with the need for equipping those most likely to witness an opioid overdose with the proper use of naloxone.
纳洛酮的分发和正确使用培训是预防阿片类药物过量死亡的循证策略。在德克萨斯州的主要大都市和城市中心，作为全州有针对性的阿片类药物应对计划的一部分，进行了面对面的纳洛酮培训。在 COVID-19 公共卫生紧急声明期间，培训计划转变为现场虚拟格式。本文通过分析使用新的虚拟培训格式所覆盖的社区的特征，描述了这种转变的影响。
培训参与者的地址与县阿片类药物过量死亡人数和宽带互联网接入率进行了比较，与人口普查街区进行了比较，以了解卫生服务短缺、农村指定和种族/族裔社区特征。
虚拟培训格式比面对面的活动覆盖了更多的学习者。培训覆盖了德克萨斯州近一半的县，包括最近发生阿片类药物过量死亡的所有县。大多数参与者居住在卫生服务提供者短缺的社区，培训覆盖了农村地区、宽带互联网供应有限的地区和大多数西班牙裔社区。在限制面对面聚会的情况下，培训计划成功地转向了现场在线格式。这种转变使参与人数超过了大流行前的水平，并覆盖了那些最有可能目睹阿片类药物过量的社区，为他们配备了正确使用纳洛酮的知识。
