SBIRT, screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment, can be taught in academia as well as the bedside.
At Penn State University College of Nursing, the SBIRT process was integrated into our family/individual across the lifespan nurse practitioner curriculum in the Spring of 2020 and 2021. The project was guided by a national initiative by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, grant supported by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. During the Spring of 2020, the NP students received the training through their pediatric didactic course as a pilot for future permeant implementation into the NP curriculum. They then simulated the SBIRT process using Kognito’s SBI with Adolescents online simulation. Following their pediatric didactic course, they then applied their knowledge on real patients in their pediatric clinical course. They screened an adolescent using a screening tool of their choice, offered motivational interviewing and brief intervention, and referred to treatment if needed. Through evaluation of a pre-test, two post-tests, and student reflections, students felt the SBIRT process was beneficial and applicable to their practice as nurse practitioners.
If you are interested in teaching a similar program, please reach out. We are happy to help.