Virginia Via Research Day Book 2026

Medical Student Research Education and Simulation

05 A TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALTH APPROACH TO EVALUATION OF THE VIRGINIA REVIVE! COURSE IN THE TRAINING OF FIRST YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS IN RURAL VIRGINIA - AN EXTENDED STUDY

Olivia Hess, MPH, OMS-II; David Roach, MPH, OMS-II; Lea Lenker, OMS-II; Nancy Martinez, OMS-II; Ryan Martin; James Mahaney, PhD Corresponding author: ohess@vcom.edu

VCOM-Virginia, Blacksburg, Virginia

them, 4. Understand how naloxone works, 5. Identify risk factors that may make someone more susceptible to an opioid overdose emergency, 6. Dispel common myths about how to reverse an opioid overdose, and 7. Learn how to respond to an opioid overdose emergency with the administration of naloxone. The primary objectives of this project are to: Evaluate the effectiveness of simulation-based training and real-time decision-making models within the REVIVE! Curriculum, Determine the effectiveness of simulation-based training in comparison to the traditional lecture-based REVIVE! Curriculum, and test six-month knowledge retention of learning objectives and naloxone response protocol between traditional and simulation-based training groups Methods: A total of 115 first-year medical students were divided into control and experimental groups. 54 of these students received the traditional lecture-based REVIVE! training. 61 of these students received the traditional lecture REVIVE! training with simulation based training. Following the lecture component and their 6-month follow-up, all participants completed a post-assessment survey. Simulation-based training component: Following the lecture-based portion, individuals in the experimental

group proceeded to the simulation rooms and were presented with an opioid case or a non-opioid case. Students were assessed on their ability to correctly identify their case and follow the appropriate protocol. Upon completion, students were asked to subjectively rate themselves on how confident they were in their performance and how confident they would be in responding to such a situation in the real world. Results: This study is currently in the initial data analysis phase and is reporting new findings based on additional data collected over the last year. Conclusion: Once data analysis is complete, we will be able to conclude the effectiveness of the REVIVE!-based program alone or the need for supplemental/simulation-based training. IRB Statement: This study was approved by the VCOM IRB, protocol number 2039882-6. IRB Statement: This study was approved by the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine IRB, protocol number 2039882-6.

Background: In 2023, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reported a total of 2,463 drug overdose deaths, 2,058 of which were opioid-related. Compared to 2022, this was approximately a 2% decrease in opioid overdose fatalities (2022 death count: 2,102). Despite this minimal improvement, there remains a need for educational and public health awareness regarding opioid-related deaths. Naloxone is an FDA-approved nasal spray that rapidly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, working as an opioid antagonist to block the effects of opioids by binding to the same receptors in the brain. In 2013, the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) implemented an Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education (OONE) program called REVIVE! This program provides lay individuals with training on how to recognize and stop an opioid overdose with Naloxone. VCOM Virginia’s Overdose Prevention Task Force (OPTF) provides REVIVE! Training annually to first years in an attempt to mitigate the effects of the opioid epidemic. OPTF has successfully trained 100% of the first-year class at VCOM-VA for the last 6 years. Despite the longevity of REVIVE! at the state and VCOM levels, this program lacks peer-reviewed evaluation of its objectives: 1. Understand the REVIVE! program and legislation, 2. Understand addiction, 3. Understand how opioid overdose emergencies happen and how to recognize

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161 2026 Research Recognition Day