Education Intervention to Increase Naltrexone Use Among Adult Inpatients With Alcohol Use Disorder

Abstract

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) accounts for high rates of global deaths, disability, and health care spending. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist used to reduce alcohol cravings. Despite demonstrated safety and efficacy, naltrexone is highly underutilized in a variety of health care settings. The current quality improvement (QI) project aimed to increase knowledge and prescribing behaviors of naltrexone. A chart review of a purposive convenience sample was performed to determine the impact of the intervention. Staff participants completed a pre/posttest and a post-module survey. The primary objectives of the QI project were to increase the number of patients with AUD discharged with a prescription for naltrexone by 5% and achieve 50% staff participation in the online module, pre/posttest, and post-module survey. [ Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 61 (9), 10–14.]