Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge and Practices Pertaining to Naloxone Use: A Single-Institution Experience in North Carolina

Naloxone is a life-saving medication for opioid overdose, which claims many lives annually. This study investigated provider attitudes about, beliefs about, and barriers to naloxone use to inform an increase in provider prescription of naloxone. The survey took place at a large Southern tertiary hea...

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Main Authors: Michael S. Argenyi, Gisele Bailey, Christopher J. McLouth, Erin Barnes, Candice J. McNeil
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Advocate Aurora Health 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews
Subjects:
Online Access:https://institutionalrepository.aah.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2103&context=jpcrr
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author Michael S. Argenyi
Gisele Bailey
Christopher J. McLouth
Erin Barnes
Candice J. McNeil
author_facet Michael S. Argenyi
Gisele Bailey
Christopher J. McLouth
Erin Barnes
Candice J. McNeil
author_sort Michael S. Argenyi
collection DOAJ
description Naloxone is a life-saving medication for opioid overdose, which claims many lives annually. This study investigated provider attitudes about, beliefs about, and barriers to naloxone use to inform an increase in provider prescription of naloxone. The survey took place at a large Southern tertiary health center. An adapted REDCap survey utilizing validated questions was distributed via institutional e-mail listservs. The results (N = 181) were analyzed using descriptive and chi-square statistics. While 90.9% of the providers had heard of the strategy of prescribing naloxone to prevent overdose, only 72.1% of providers would have considered prescribing naloxone. Providers reported implementing treatment or referrals when informed about nonprescribed opioid use (49.4%), when informed about suspected opioid use disorder (50.6%), or when patients asked for opioid use treatment advice or referral (24.4%). Responses indicated that providers are aware of prescribing naloxone to prevent overdose; however, discrepancies existed between providers’ knowledge and their willingness to prescribe naloxone. Providers’ reluctance to prescribe is partially explained by unfamiliarity with the safety of naloxone and counseling practices surrounding the drug, as well as the belief that prescribing naloxone encourages continued nonprescribed use of opioids. To increase provider comfort, training programs surrounding the safety and counseling practices of naloxone should be implemented.
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spelling doaj-art-0130fa58cd594100a9cdc76b20752e2d2025-08-20T02:24:46ZengAdvocate Aurora HealthJournal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews2330-06982025-04-01122768110.17294/2330-0698.2103Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge and Practices Pertaining to Naloxone Use: A Single-Institution Experience in North CarolinaMichael S. Argenyi0Gisele Bailey1Christopher J. McLouth2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5434-9748Erin Barnes3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9930-7664Candice J. McNeil4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0566-9515Wake Forest School of Medicine; University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolUniversity of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of LawUniversity of Kentucky College of Public HealthWake Forest School of MedicineWake Forest School of MedicineNaloxone is a life-saving medication for opioid overdose, which claims many lives annually. This study investigated provider attitudes about, beliefs about, and barriers to naloxone use to inform an increase in provider prescription of naloxone. The survey took place at a large Southern tertiary health center. An adapted REDCap survey utilizing validated questions was distributed via institutional e-mail listservs. The results (N = 181) were analyzed using descriptive and chi-square statistics. While 90.9% of the providers had heard of the strategy of prescribing naloxone to prevent overdose, only 72.1% of providers would have considered prescribing naloxone. Providers reported implementing treatment or referrals when informed about nonprescribed opioid use (49.4%), when informed about suspected opioid use disorder (50.6%), or when patients asked for opioid use treatment advice or referral (24.4%). Responses indicated that providers are aware of prescribing naloxone to prevent overdose; however, discrepancies existed between providers’ knowledge and their willingness to prescribe naloxone. Providers’ reluctance to prescribe is partially explained by unfamiliarity with the safety of naloxone and counseling practices surrounding the drug, as well as the belief that prescribing naloxone encourages continued nonprescribed use of opioids. To increase provider comfort, training programs surrounding the safety and counseling practices of naloxone should be implemented.https://institutionalrepository.aah.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2103&context=jpcrrnaloxoneprovider knowledgeopioid useoverdoseattitudes
spellingShingle Michael S. Argenyi
Gisele Bailey
Christopher J. McLouth
Erin Barnes
Candice J. McNeil
Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge and Practices Pertaining to Naloxone Use: A Single-Institution Experience in North Carolina
Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews
naloxone
provider knowledge
opioid use
overdose
attitudes
title Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge and Practices Pertaining to Naloxone Use: A Single-Institution Experience in North Carolina
title_full Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge and Practices Pertaining to Naloxone Use: A Single-Institution Experience in North Carolina
title_fullStr Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge and Practices Pertaining to Naloxone Use: A Single-Institution Experience in North Carolina
title_full_unstemmed Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge and Practices Pertaining to Naloxone Use: A Single-Institution Experience in North Carolina
title_short Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge and Practices Pertaining to Naloxone Use: A Single-Institution Experience in North Carolina
title_sort bridging the gap between knowledge and practices pertaining to naloxone use a single institution experience in north carolina
topic naloxone
provider knowledge
opioid use
overdose
attitudes
url https://institutionalrepository.aah.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2103&context=jpcrr
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