Description
Opioid use disorder (OUD) among women who become pregnant is increasing in prevalence in clinical settings. The standard of care is to provide buprenorphine or methadone as a part of a complete treatment approach during pregnancy and beyond the postpartum period. This module reviews the historical and current context of opioid use among women and during pregnancy. It compares pharmacological treatment options for women who become pregnant with an OUD and also discusses the issues with detoxification or medically assisted withdrawal from opioids during pregnancy. Issues related to the treatment of OUD during pregnancy and in the postpartum period for the mother, fetus and child will also be discussed (e.g., induction, dosing, pain management, neonatal withdrawal syndrome and how to reduce its severity).
Target Audience
Physicians, nurses, and healthcare teams who are treating patients with substance use disorder (SUD).
Presenter
Hendrée E. Jones, PhD | Executive Director, UNC Horizons; Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University of North Carolina
Credit Designations Available
Interprofessional Continuing Education credit, AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, and Nursing Contact Hours.
Core Competencies as a result of participating in this activity
Interpersonal Skills and Communication
Medical Knowledge
Patient Care
Educational Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity participants should be able to:
Compare and contrast the risks and benefits of medication assisted treatment vs. medication assisted withdrawal for the effective treatment of women with OUD during pregnancy and the post-partum period
Compare and contrast the risks and benefits of methadone and buprenorphine treatment during pregnancy for mother, fetus and child
Identify at least three factors that are associated with reducing neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) severity among babies that are prenatally exposed to methadone or buprenorphine
Method of participating in the learning process
In order to receive maximum credit, learners must:
1. Review the materials provided in this module.
2. Earn a minimum cumulative score of 80% on the post-test.
3. Complete an evaluation to assess satisfaction and plans for individual and/or team practice change.
4. Follow instructions at the end of the course regarding how to retrieve a certificate.*
*Credit will not be awarded unless all components of the program are completed. Partial credit will not be awarded.