IOTOD 2021 virtual conference

On the 26th and 27th April, the annual Improving Outcomes in the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (IOTOD) returned for its 19th year and for the second time as a virtual conference, to address the educational needs of healthcare professionals treating patients with opioid dependence.

Objectives

To create an educational conference for a diverse healthcare professional audience to address current challenges, treatments and perceptions in the treatment of opioid dependence.

Our approach

Via Pulse, Nursing in Practice, The Pharmacist, Hospital Healthcare Europe, Hospital Pharmacy Europe and our IOTOD community, we were able to reach an engaged community of addition specialists, psychiatrists, psychologists, GPs, community pharmacists, hepatologists, primary care nurses, and other healthcare professionals managing patients with opioid dependence and associated comorbidities. Targeted messages were disseminated via email, online advertising and social media to drive registrations to the virtual event.

Leading six sessions over two days via Cogora’s own platform HCP Connect, the expert faculty educated on important topics in the treatment of opioid dependence to enable delegates to:

  1. Determine the evolution of patient groups and their needs and how these changes will impact on treatment service providers
  2. Recognise the ways in which COVID-19 has impacted service provision, barriers to treatment, and patient vulnerability
  3. Identify OAD patients and improve the management of chronic pain, with emphasis on the diverse perspectives provided by different healthcare services
  4. Recognise the challenges and benefits of long-acting BPN from the perspectives of healthcare providers and service users
  5. Improve HBV management and contribute to HCV elimination by screening, treating and/or improving the treatment pathway for PWID
  6. Explain the rationale behind suggested/potential treatments of presented case-studies from multidisciplinary service perspectives

Following the sessions, and as part of ongoing education and learning, delegates came to a consensus on “commitments to change” – the practice changes they vowed to make with the aim of improving outcomes in the treatment of opioid dependence.

Outcome

  • 365 delegates
  • 32 countries
  • 75%+ of the audience pledged to commitments to practice change

365 delegates from 32 countries attended throughout the live 2-day event and the 30-day on-demand period, including addiction specialists, psychiatrists, GPs/family doctors, nurses and pharmacists. Over 75% of the audience pledged to commitments to practice change that included:

  • routine screening for polysubstance use, HBV and HCV
  • working with their MDT to improve the detection and management of opioid analgesic dependence
  • explaining the benefits, pharmacodynamic properties and challenges of long-acting buprenorphine formulations and take-home naloxone to their patients to support informed treatment choice & joint decision-making
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