Faculty education in addiction training (FEAT): Evaluating an online training program for multidisciplinary health professions educators

Abstract

Background: Many health professionals lack adequate training needed to effectively address alcohol and other drug (AOD)-related problems. Building upon our previously successful in-person faculty training programs, we designed and pilot tested the brief online Faculty Education in Addiction Training (FEAT) Program for social work and internal medicine residency faculty. The present study examines baseline and post-FEAT Program AOD knowledge and teaching confidence and preparedness among faculty participants. Methods: The FEAT Program curriculum included didactic videos, online engagement with content experts, recommended readings, and a live virtual classroom experience. Participants completed self-assessments of knowledge and teaching confidence and preparedness pre- and post-FEAT program. Results: In this pilot test, thirty faculty completed the FEAT program: 15 social work and 15 internal medical residency program faculty. Both groups showed significant improvement (p < 0.001) in overall AOD-related knowledge with medium-to-large effects (Cohen’s d = 1.83 [social work], 0.72 [medicine]). Both groups showed significant increases in teaching confidence (p < 0.001) for all items with large effects (Cohen’s d values range from 1.08 to 1.92) and significant increases and large effects for all teaching preparedness items for social work (at least p < 0.01 | Cohen’s d range = 1.03–1.56) and internal medical residency faculty (p < 0.001 | Cohen’s d range = 1.08–1.69). Conclusions: Multidisciplinary health professions educators’ AOD knowledge and teaching confidence and preparedness can be improved by participation in a brief online program designed to circumvent the logistical and fiscal challenges presented by in-person programs.

Keywords:

• Continuing education
• substance use disorders
• training
• treatment

Acknowledgments

Preliminary study results were presented at the 43rd annual meeting of the Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance use and Addiction in Boston, MA in Nov. 2019.

Additional information

Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by the Boston University Clinical & Translational Science Institute (BU-CSTI) and the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) via Award Number [TR001430]. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the BU-CTSI or NCATS. The funding organization had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.