IOTOD: Improving Opioid Dependence Outcomes

Opioid dependence is a major global health concern associated with considerable morbidity, and many countries, including the UK, have seen a worrying rise in opioid overdose deaths in recent years. Better care and evidence-based approaches are crucial to address this rise in deaths and improve outcomes for this population.

The IOTOD educational programme includes the annual CME-accredited IOTOD conference, which is dedicated to measuring practice improvements (via the IOTOD ‘commitments to change’) and educational outcomes resulting from attendance at its sessions.

The IOTOD offering

The IOTOD initiative brings together healthcare professionals from across the globe to share and discuss best practice in the field of opioid dependence as part of an ongoing effort to promote high standards of care for this particularly vulnerable patient population.

Providing a variety of live and online educational interventions and resources, IOTOD has evolved into a diverse, multiplatform initiative driving change in the understanding and treatment of all areas of opioid dependence. In addition to the standalone conference, IOTOD now includes online education, such as webcasts, reports, and resources and tools such as the take-home naloxone (THN) toolkit. HCPs can view journal clubs and webcasts in their own time, from anywhere in the world, with the opportunity to gain CME credits.

Wide appeal

IOTOD education works with renowned international experts, and uses cutting-edge technology and creative techniques, to connect education directly with the clinical practice of delegates.

Both the event and complementary online education are valuable to anyone who has an interest in opioid addiction medicine or who plays a role in the care of people who inject drugs. Past visitors have included addiction specialists, pain specialists, psychiatrists, social workers, general practitioners and nurses.

Flagship event

The IOTOD conference has become a key event in the addictions world owing to its novel approach to creating impactful learning experiences. The latest scientific evidence is applied to clinical practice, with the ultimate aim of improving patient outcomes.

Year after year, IOTOD offers an exciting educational opportunity for delegates and promises to provide them with the tools to address the needs of their more complex and challenging patients.

The interactive element of the event, via voting keypads, assessments and commitments to change, affords increased discussions with the speakers and allows PCM Scientific to document the changes that delegates have committed to implementing in their clinical practice.

IOTOD 2018

2018’s IOTOD conference took place at the Hilton Madrid Airport hotel on the 15–16 May 2018. The conference was a huge success with healthcare professionals from all over Europe gathering to discuss best practices and new ideas for opioid dependence care. The two-day event hosted case studies, panel discussions and expert-led talks on a diverse range of topics, including cutting-edge research, psychosocial interventions, harm reduction, psychiatric disorders, heroin-assisted treatment, hepatis C and much more.

IOTOD’s future

The IOTOD educational initiative perpetually aims to provide the most up-to-date information in the field of opioid addiction. We’re looking forward to the 2019 conference continuing to attract a multitude of specialists from around the world, again making it a unique opportunity to network with high-level experts in opioid addiction and gain valuable insight on some of the most controversial topics in the field.