Week 10 Project Overview Description

Sample Answer

Week 10 Project Overview Description

The opioid epidemic is a national public health concern due to its associated negative effects on individuals, the health care system, and society. Evidence shows that mortality related to overdose has more than tripled in the last twenty years, with about 75% of these deaths involving opioids (Singh et al., 2019).

The emergence of the Coronavirus disease of 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic exacerbated the problem as more individuals suffered from the epidemic due to movement restrictions and other measures to prevent and reduce the spread of the infectious disease. As such, this research project entails determining the efficacy of using rapid medication administration to counteract the effects of an overdose.

The paper recommends that making these medications available without prescription at the local drug store, over the counter (OTC), would help reduce the issue. Again, having a robust data collection and reporting system for potentially vulnerable patients is another strategy to address the opioid epidemic.

Background and Significance of Problem

Opioid overdose has been a significant healthcare and public health problem over the years. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought a completely different challenge in reference to opioid overdose. Recent studies show that individuals with opioid overdose problems sunk more into the problems, primarily due to the lockdown rules and shutting down of the recreational activities where such individuals could spend some time, hence taking the thoughts of opioid use away from them for a duration (Ghose et al.,2022).

One of the approaches for managing the opioid overdose crisis is the use of rapid administration of medication to reverse the opioid action. The most common medication in this case is naloxone because of its positive effects.
The problem of opioid overdose is significant because of its negative effects that include death, increased susceptibility to substance use disorder (SUD), and mental health issues or disorders for individuals.

Again, generating a sustainable solution helps reduce the chances of treatment relapses for individuals on regimens. The cost of opioid overdose is astronomical based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which shows that in 2017, it cost the U.S. $1.02 trillion. Kuehn (2021) observes that total annual costs associated with the opioid use disorder (OUD) in 2018 were $786.8 to society, $93 billion to taxpayers and $89.1 billion to the healthcare sector. Opioid overdose also causes death, increases susceptibility to substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health problems.

Statement of the Problem and Purpose of the Study

The opioid epidemic is a serious national public health issue and concern because of its negative effects to individuals, families, communities, the health care sector and the entire population. Deaths associated to the problem continue to rise alongside healthcare costs. As such, working collaboratively with other agencies, advanced practice nurses, have a duty to develop solutions to the problem to reduce and prevent its harmful effects.

The use of administration of rapid medications to reduce and prevent the counteraction of opioid is critical and proven to lower effects on individuals. Making these medications available over the counter like naloxone will greatly help to reduce the epidemic. The purpose of this study is to conduct research on the effects of using naloxone as a fast medication to reduce effects of opioid overdose.

Literature Review

Summary of the Evidence for the Proposed Study
In this section, the study considers existing evidence on the problem under investigation and the use of naloxone medicine as an intervention to addressing the issue. The emergence and spread of Covid-19 pandemic had serious implications on access to healthcare, including treatment for individuals suffering from opioid overdose and use disorder.

Lockard et al. (2022 thrugh a qualitative study of patient experiences with telemedicine to access opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment during Covid-19 shows the significant effects of the pandemic on patients. The use of virtual visits as effective to patients underscores the importance of having fast medications accessible to those affected. Galarmeau et al. (2021) also demonstrate the impact of covid-19 pandemic on individuals experiencing opioid overdose.

Based on the participants’ views and experiences, engagement in opioid abuse emanated from a host of factors associated with movement restrictions due to the pandemic. The study concludes that opioid use disorder is a growing concern with serious implications and requires evidence-based interventions.

Studies demonstrate that using naloxone can lower the risk for accidental death among opioid abusers and those at increased chances of overdose. Collins et al. (2020) show that naloxone is a fast medication that lowers risks associated with overdose and having it available to patients would greatly lower the chance of adverse events like mortality. Naumann et al. (2019) carried out a study focusing on evaluating the effects of distributing naloxone through an initiative aimed at reducing the effects of opioid overdose.

The study examined the interactions between the initiative and death rates associated with opioid overdose. Using a pre-post design and generalized estimation equations, the results show that using naloxone reduced the death rates among individuals with opioid overdose. As such, the use of naloxone lowered adverse effects and outcomes associated with opioid use disorder, especially mortality of individuals.
The study by Katzman et al. (2020) examined the efficacy of take-home naloxone for overdose cases’ reversal among patients with the opioid use disorder.

The program included giving the participants two doses of take-home naloxone and provision of education on opioid overdose of a year. The analysis of the outcomes had significant implications. The results indicated that 18% of the participants performed 114 reversals. As such, the study’s outcomes reveal that using naloxone and overdose education reduces harm on opioid use disorder and potential associated deaths. As advanced by Naumann et al. (2019), this research integrates both naloxone utilization and patient education to reduce the negative effects of opioid use disorder.

Another evidence to support the suggested intervention is by Dietze et al. (2019) who explored the effectiveness of intranasal naloxone on opioid overdose in comparison to intramuscular one. Using 197 participants in a randomized controlled trial, the study showed that both cohorts had considerable positive results from using naloxone to mitigate opioid overdose. The overall outcomes demonstrate that using naloxone reverses effects of opioid overdose. While the methods of application may differ, the overall results show the efficacy of the intervention. The study shows that intramuscular administration was more effective in reversing the effects of overdose associated with opioid use disorder.

Furthermore, a study by Skulberg et al. (2022) also demonstrate the efficacy of using naloxone among individuals abusing opiates. The randomized controlled trial used 201 participants where intranasal and intramuscular naloxone was administered. Like the Dietze et al. (2019) the primary focus was to compare the effectiveness of using either intramuscular or intranasal method. Based on its findings, the study agreed with the previous one that intramuscular naloxone is more effective compared to intranasal regimen. As such, the study also confirmed the effectiveness of using naloxone on patients with opioid use overdose.

It is evident that studies and their findings demonstrate the effectiveness of using naloxone to reduce negative effects associated with opioid overdose. More fundamentally, some studies have also focused on the use of educational programs, like those targeting students to reduce the prevalence of opioid overdose and possible effects. Increased knowledge about these program among nurses and nursing students is essential and a core strategy to control and reduce opioid overdose and its associated effects.

The study by Stover et al. (2019) shows that having such programs increases awareness and knowledge about opioid overdose. Students in different educational settings can benefit from such programs to reduce the prevalence of opioid overdose. The article recommends the use of educational programs among different stakeholders, especially healthcare providers and students at increased risk of overdose because of opioids as it ensures that they have knowledge and skills to mitigate the effects of opioid overdose that they may be exposed to in different situations.

Therefore, evidence supports the use of naloxone to reduce the adverse effects of opioid use disorder as well as educational programs to provide information and interventions to diverse patient populations. The review of literature emphasizes the role of nurses in integrating these interventions based on the populations targeted. The use of naloxone as an intervention to reducing the adverse effects associated with opioid overdose is effective alongside education among diverse patient populations and individuals.

Research Question, Hypothesis, and Variables with Operational Definitions

Research Question

The research question in this study is, “Does the use of naloxone for opioid use addicts alongside patient education reduce adverse effects like death?

Hypothesis

In this case, the study employs an alternative hypothesis showing a relationship between the two variables; use of naloxone and reduction in adverse effects of the opioid overdose. The implication is that the experimental hypothesis is that using naloxone and education will have positive correlation with a reduction in negative effects of opioid use overdose.

Operational Definitions

In this study, opioid overdose is defined as the excessive use of opiates without or with prescription by individuals affecting by a condition or in some instances, not. The use of fast medications like naloxone is defined as the right administration of the drugs based on prescription of a physician to help prevent and reduce the adverse effects of opioid use.

Theoretical Framework

Overview and Guiding Propositions(s) Described in Theory
The study will use Orem’s self-care deficit theory which holds that individuals should be self-sufficient and self-dependent as well as responsible for their care. The guiding proposition of this theory is that people are capable of complex functions that include preventing illnesses and seeking health behaviors (Yip, 2021).

The theory advances that nursing is an art of assisting and offering service to improve patient outcomes. Nurses only intervene in complex patient situations. Further, personal knowledge is essential for success in self-care. Nascimento et al. (2021) observe that based on the model, nurses act on behalf of patients, with patients and by empowering them through education.

Application of Theory to the Study’s/Project’s Focus

The theoretical framework is applicable in this project as it promotes self-care as the best way to administer naloxone. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that suppresses the depressant actions of opioids.

Effective access to the medication will improve one’s ability to manage opioid overdose issue on their own without much intervention of nurses. Using this framework will ensure that nurses empower patients on the correct use of naloxone to address the issue of opioid overdose leading to reduced deaths and emergency department visits.

Methodology

Sampling/ Setting

The study sample would include 20 opioid users from diverse backgrounds, with emphasis on those from low-income urban neighborhoods with racial minorities like Hispanics and Blacks.

The low-income racial minority populations are more vulnerable to opioid use disorder due several social determinants of health (SDOH) issues. The study would include participants aged 18 years and above, having addiction or recovering from addiction.

The setting would be participants’ homes or living environment to understand the effects of issues like social determinants of health that influence opioid use disorder. The study will also get information from healthcare organizations where participants seek treatment and medical interventions.

Sampling Strategy

In this case, the paper will deploy purposeful sampling by selecting participants based on the set inclusion criteria (Doyle et al., 2020). This implies that only those with the problem will volunteer to participate in the study as well as their healthcare providers.

Research Design

The researchers will use a correctional model or design to assess the interactions between the two variables. Correctional studies allow researchers to have an in-depth understanding of the research phenomenon (Gill, 2020). The use of correctional design implies that researchers would want to improve their understanding of the impact of the different variables on the care outcomes.

Extraneous Variables

Extraneous variables denote any variable not included in research but influences the results or findings. The extraneous variables in this study would include income levels that determines one ability to use opioids, present history of substance use disorder and other social determinants of health.

The plan to control the mentioned variables would entail reducing their influence on the participant’s perception of the opioid epidemic (Orcan, 2020). The researchers will also control these variables by ensuring that addicted persons or the subjects have access to sufficient amounts of drugs during the study.

Instruments

The researchers will use questionnaires as it will allow participants to answer questions without any predetermined answers. Questionnaires are highly valid and reliable since they offer original or firsthand information of point-of-view of participants.

They are also consistent based on their formulation. The study will employ content validity approach to assess the level of accuracy of data provided by participants (Doyle et al., 2020). The research will test reliability using the test-retest approach.

Description of the Intervention

The identified intervention in this study is the fast administration of medications to help individuals suffering from opioid overdose to reduce adverse effects, especially death. The medication will ensure that there are no relapses or will help counteract the effects of the overdose. The intervention will also include education for patients to understand dealing with the opioid overdose issues.

Data Collection Procedures

The study will collect data using questionnaires. The questionnaire will have open-ended and closed-ended questions to gather data from participants and their healthcare providers. The researchers will send the questionnaires using approaches that are convenient to participants. The researchers will not manipulate the subjects as they will fill the questions alone.

Data Analysis Plan

The study will use descriptive statistical tests to analyze data collected from participants during the trial. The researchers will also deploy inferential statistics tests that include Pearson and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (Doyle et al., 2020). These tests would be critical in determining the correlation between the variables.

Ethical Issues

Research studies should protect human subjects based on ethical principles like beneficence, autonomy and non-maleficence, as well as justice. In this study, having approval from institutional review board of the respective setting for the study would be a core part of meeting ethical requirements. The researchers will also seek informed consent from participants and ensure that they are competent to avoid any harm and abuse (Orcan, 2020).

The informed consent will imply that their participation is voluntary. The researchers will also protect their personal information based on the concept of confidentiality and ensure that the trial offers benefits to the participants.

Limitations of Proposed Study

A core limitation of this study will be the number of participants based on the sample as it may not offer comprehensive analysis of the intervention. The second limitation is the use of an intervention that is already available implying that many may not pay attention to new findings that the study may provide. However, the study will recommend, based on its findings, areas for future research to improve understanding of the current intervention.

Implications for Practice

The findings from this study will have fundamental implications for nursing practice in efforts to deal with the opioid overdose crisis, especially in emergency room and department. The findings will increase knowledge about the effects of using naloxone and the need for enhance its accessibility to patients.

Again, based on theoretical framework of self-care by Orem, nurses will help patients get sufficient information by educating them on the benefits of naloxone and its use in reducing adverse effects of opioid overdose. Nurses will use the findings as best practice and recommend to patients presenting in emergency departments due to opioid overdose.

Conclusion

The opioid epidemic is a public health concern that requires interventions by all stakeholders to reduce its adverse effects. The current study focuses on using naloxone as a fast medication to mitigate the adverse effects of opioid overdose.

The medication is effective and can help patients reduce their emergency department visits due to opioid overdose. The study recommends that providers should integrate patient education alongside use of naloxone to improve patient knowledge and understanding of their situations and what they can do to mitigate possible negative effects.

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