Implementation of an online and in-person addiction medicine course and its impact on medical students’ knowledge on substance use disorders

BACKGROUND: Substance use is a public health crisis that requires improved education on substance use disorders (SUDs) in medical school curriculum to ensure that the future generation of physicians is prepared to care for this growing patient population. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates how the implementation of an online and in-person addiction medicine course impacted medical students' knowledge on SUD and caring for patients with SUD. METHODS: 86 third-year and fourth-year medical students participated in either an online or in-person elective course on addiction medicine. Students learned about SUDs through various modalities, such as online SUD modules, clinical encounters, movies, books, participation in support group meetings and learning evidence-based tools to screen or treat patients. To assess the impact of the course curriculum on students' knowledge in treating SUDs, a pre and post survey was administered and analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of an addiction medicine course that utilizes various teaching modalities can significantly improve medical students' fundamental knowledge on SUD.