An innovative virtual reality naloxone training session from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing targeted towards the general population
In recognition of the need to expand overdose education and naloxone distribution to the general population, the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing collaborated with the Annenberg School for Communication to develop a virtual opioid overdose management training.
The training uses an "immersion" virtual reality approach, meaning that a video with a 360 degree angle re-enacts a real world experience of bystanders witnessing an opioid overdose and responding by going through the steps of giving the person naloxone. In the video, the people responding to the opioid overdose are vocal about the steps they go through in administering naloxone. The video concludes with the laypersons interacting with EMS, where the steps of the naloxone training are reinforced. The virtual naloxone training is about ten minutes long.
This virtual reality naloxone training is available to anyone who wants to incorporate overdose education and naloxone distribution into their communities and has been shown to be just as effective as an in-person training. More information on the program can be found in the news article here. Contact information can be found on the website that contains the virtual training here.