Adolescent Addiction Curriculum: Impact on Knowledge Self-Assessment in Pediatric Learners

Abstract

Introduction Addiction is developmentally a pediatric-onset disease. Adolescent addiction recently gained the nation's attention due to the steep increase in opioid-related drug overdose deaths. Educating future adolescent health providers on adolescent addiction is a strategic initiative to mitigate the impact of this challenging public health concern. Methods We used a logic model worksheet to identify key target areas informing the curriculum content development. The curriculum was written to be delivered in three successive parts—the Science of Addiction, Adolescence and Addiction, and Diagnosis and Treatment—each within a 2-hour interactive lecture session using PowerPoint presentations, brief videos, and learner activities. We collected data using pre- and postsession self-evaluation questionnaires. We calculated mean differences in scores and obtained qualitative data from learner comments. Results Sessions were well received by attendees. A total of 31 participants attended at least one session. Knowledge of adolescent addiction increased in each session, with the greatest increase in the Science of Addiction (1.6, p = .0011), followed by Diagnosis and Treatment (1.1, p < .0001) and Adolescence and Addiction (0.9, p < .0001). Discussion Attendance at one or more sessions improved participants' addiction-related knowledge. Graduate medical training programs can provide adolescent addiction education using systematic curricula such as this. Furthermore, this curriculum can be adapted to suit different groups of learners.

Keywords

• Curriculum
• Adolescent
• Adolescence
• Substance-Related Disorders
• Addiction
• Mental Health