2025-06-12 –, Posters Display 3
Background
Opioid overdose deaths can be prevented by the timely administration of naloxone by lay responders. However, this requires sufficient members of the public to carry naloxone and have been trained in how to recognise and manage an opioid overdose. Take-home naloxone schemes exist in several countries, including the UK, and almost always involve a training component. However, the format, content, and duration of training vary, and there is no consensus on the optimal version. The current systematic review will provide a comprehensive overview and evaluation of opioid overdose management and naloxone training programmes worldwide. We aim to understand the effectiveness of opioid overdose training as indicated by one or more of these outcomes (i) knowledge on how to respond to an opioid overdose, (ii) confidence in responding to an opioid overdose, (iii) behaviour in opioid overdose situations.
Methods
A title and abstract search will be made in MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO. Included studies will report on original data investigating the effectiveness of training in management of an opioid overdose, including but not necessarily involving naloxone administration. The population of interest is any person who is at risk of witnessing an opioid overdose, including people who use opioids, family and friends of people who use opioids, persons working in services that support people who use opioids, and members of the public, as well as medical professionals such as nurses.
Results
We will provide a narrative synthesis of the studies reviewed. To address our main aims, we will summarise and discuss the effectiveness of training according to the outcome assessed (knowledge, attitude, behaviour). We will also summarise the characteristics of the training described in different studies.
Conclusion
The results of this systematic review will inform a pilot study exploring the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of online training in opioid overdose management and take-home naloxone in England.
Kat Petrilli (1,2) , Martine Skumlien (1,3), John Strang (1,3,4)
1 Policy Research Unit in Addictions, Department of Addictions, King's College London, London United Kingdom
2 Institute of Alcohol Studies, London, United Kingdom
3 National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
4 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
Kat Petrilli began working as a postdoctoral research associate at King's College London in September 2024. They work with Professor Sir John Strang in the Policy Research Unit in Addictions conducting research focused on enhancing the knowledge, access, and distribution of naloxone, a potentially life-saving medication for opioid overdoses.
In addition to their role at the Policy Research Unit in Addictions, Kat is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Alcohol Studies.