Table 1. Survey response frequencies.
EMT, emergency medical technician; EMS, emergency medical services; CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation; OD, overdose; HCPD, Howard County Police Department
Questions omitted from follow-up surveys are denoted by “-” in the “Frequency” column.
*Correct survey answers, where applicable.
| Survey Question | Post-Test (n=228) Frequency (%) | 30-Day (n=207) Frequency (%) | 6-Month (n=182) Frequency (%) | |
| 1. When was the last time you were on a call with the victim of a possible opioid (heroin, etc.) overdose? | ||||
| 1 | Within the last week | 15 (6.58%) | - | - |
| 2 | Within the last month | 33 (14.47%) | - | - |
| 3 | Within the last 6-12 months | 79 (34.65%) | - | - |
| 4 | Greater than 1 year ago | 69 (30.26%) | - | - |
| 5 | I have never encountered such a call | 32 (14.04%) | - | - |
| 99 | Skip/missing | 0 (0.00%) | - | - |
| 2. How many years have you worked as a police officer? | ||||
| 1 | Less than 1 year | 4 (1.75%) | - | - |
| 2 | 1-2 years | 14 (6.14%) | - | - |
| 3 | 2-5 years | 33 (14.47%) | - | - |
| 4 | 5-10 years | 67 (29.39%) | - | - |
| 5 | Greater than 10 years | 110 (48.25%) | - | - |
| 99 | Skip/missing | 0 (0.00%) | - | - |
| 3. What is the highest level of medical certification that you have ever had? | ||||
| 1 | Law Enforcement Emergency Medical Care Course | 75 (32.89%) | - | - |
| 2 | First Responder | 126 (55.26%) | - | - |
| 3 | EMT | 21 (9.21%) | - | - |
| 4 | Paramedic | 4 (1.75%) | - | - |
| 5 | Other | 2 (0.88%) | - | - |
| 99 | Skip/missing | 0 (0.00%) | - | - |
| 4. I have found myself on the scene of a possible opioid overdose before the arrival of EMS | ||||
| 1 | Yes | 126 (55.26%) | 15 (7.25%) | 60 (32.97%) |
| 0 | No | 102 (44.74%) | 192 (92.75%) | 121 (66.48%) |
| 99 | Skip/missing | 0 (0.00%) | 0 (0.00%) | 1 (0.55%) |
| 5. I have done CPR or rescue breathing on the victim of a possible opioid overdose | ||||
| 1 | Yes | 31 (13.60%) | - | - |
| 2 | No | 197 (86.40%) | - | - |
| 99 | Skip/Missing | 0 (0.00%) | - | - |
| 6. Having received this training, I feel much better about my ability to help the victim of a possible opioid overdose | ||||
| 1 | Strongly disagree | 9 (3.95%) | 12 (5.80%) | 9 (4.95%) |
| 2 | Disagree | 9 (3.95%) | 1 (0.48%) | 7 (3.85%) |
| 3 | Neutral | 86 (37.72%) | 27 (13.04%) | 42 (23.08%) |
| 4 | Agree | 101 (44.30%) | 117 (56.52%) | 92 (50.55%) |
| 5 | Strongly agree | 23 (10.09%) | 50 (24.15%) | 32 (17.58%) |
| 99 | Skip/missing | 0 (0.00%) | 0 (0.00%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 7. Consumption of which of the following types of opioid containing drugs may result in an overdose? | ||||
| 1 | Injection drugs | 3 (1.32%) | 7 (3.38%) | 7 (3.85%) |
| 2 | Illegally obtained prescription | 1 (0.44%) | 1 (0.48%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 3 | Medically prescribed drugs that are new for patient | 1 (0.44%) | 0 (0.00%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 4 | drugs mixed with alcohol | 0 (0.00%) | 1 (0.48%) | 1 (0.55%) |
| 5 | All of the above* | 223 (97.81%) | 196 (94.69%) | 174 (95.60%) |
| 99 | Skip/missing | 0 (0.00%) | 2 (0.97%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 8. All of the following drugs are members of the opioid family except? | ||||
| 1 | Heroin | 10 (4.39%) | 9 (4.35%) | 3 (1.65%) |
| 2 | Morphine | 13 (5.70%) | 16 (7.73%) | 9 (4.95%) |
| 3 | Codeine | 16 (7.02%) | 12 (5.80%) | 14 (7.69%) |
| 4 | Oxycodone | 10 (4.39%) | 15 (7.25%) | 12 (6.59%) |
| 5 | Methamphetamine* | 178 (78.07%) | 152 (73.43%) | 143 (78.57%) |
| 99 | Skip/missing | 1 (0.44%) | 3 (1.45%) | 1 (0.55%) |
| 9. The initial signs of an opioid overdose patient may include which of the following except? | ||||
| 1 | Agitation/combativeness* | 146 (64.04%) | 141 (68.12%) | 135 (74.18%) |
| 2 | Sleepiness/unconsciousness | 17 (7.46%) | 4 (1.93%) | 7 (3.85%) |
| 3 | Not breathing/very slow breathing | 11 (4.82%) | 15 (7.25%) | 8 (4.40%) |
| 4 | Pinpoint pupils | 12 (5.26%) | 9 (4.35%) | 12 (6.59%) |
| 5 | Blue/grey colored skin of fingernails | 41 (17.98%) | 35 (16.91%) | 19 (10.44%) |
| 99 | Skip/missing | 1 (0.44%) | 3 (1.45%) | 1 (0.55%) |
| 10. Which of the following drug is most likely to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose? | ||||
| 1 | Oxygen | 1 (0.44%) | - | - |
| 2 | Albuterol | 1 (0.44%) | - | - |
| 3 | Epinephrine | 2 (0.88%) | - | - |
| 4 | Naloxone (Narcan®)* | 223 (97.81%) | - | - |
| 5 | Glucose | 1 (0.44%) | - | - |
| 99 | Skip/missing | 0 (0.00%) | - | - |
| 11. Intranasal naloxone (Narcan®) will begin working approximately how long after being administered? | ||||
| 1 | 30 seconds* | 128 (56.14%) | 104 (50.24%) | 111 (60.99%) |
| 2 | 1-3 min | 87 (38.16%) | 94 (45.41%) | 65 (35.71%) |
| 3 | 5-10 min | 11 (4.82%) | 4 (1.93%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 4 | 10-12 min | 1 (0.44%) | 1 (0.48%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 5 | Greater than 12 min | 1 (0.44%) | 0 (0.00%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 99 | Skip/missing | 0 (0.00%) | 4 (1.93%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 12. The dose and route of intranasal naloxone to be administered in the HCPD Opioid Response Program is? | ||||
| 1 | 4mg divided equally between each nostril | 81 (35.53%) | 73 (35.27%) | 82 (45.05%) |
| 2 | 4mg given orally | 2 (0.88%) | 0 (0.00%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 3 | 2mg divided equally between each nostril* | 142 (62.28%) | 129 (62.32%) | 97 (53.30%) |
| 4 | 2mg injected into the thigh | 1 (0.44%) | 0 (0.00%) | 1 (0.55%) |
| 5 | 4mg divided equally between each thigh | 0 (0.00%) | 0 (0.00%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 99 | Skip/missing | 2 (0.88%) | 5 (2.42%) | 2 (1.10%) |
| 13. Which of the following might occur after the law enforcement officer administers intranasal naloxone? | ||||
| 1 | Increased respirations/start breathing on their own | 2 (0.88%) | 1 (0.48%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 2 | Gradual increase in responsiveness | 1 (0.44%) | 0 (0.00%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 3 | Restlessness, agitation, possibly combativeness | 1 (0.44%) | 1 (0.48%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 4 | Vomiting | 0 (0.00%) | 0 (0.00%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 5 | All of the above* | 223 (97.81%) | 201 (97.10%) | 180 (98.90%) |
| 99 | Skip/missing | 1 (0.44%) | 4 (1.93%) | 2 (1.10%) |
| 14. After giving intranasal naloxone to a suspected overdose patient, the best thing to do is? | ||||
| 1 | Place them on their side (recovery position) until EMS arrives* | 223 (97.81%) | 202 (97.58%) | 178 (97.80%) |
| 2 | Place them onto their back (supine) until EMS arrives | 3 (1.32%) | 0 (0.00%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 3 | Place them face down (prone) until EMS arrives | 0 (0.00%) | 1 (0.48%) | 2 (1.10%) |
| 4 | Elevate their legs until EMS arrives | 1 (0.44%) | 0 (0.00%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 5 | Perform the Heimlich maneuver and reassess | 1 (0.44%) | 0 (0.00%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 99 | Skip/missing | 0 (0.00%) | 5 (2.42%) | 2 (1.10%) |
| 15. Factors which may contribute to the initial dose of intranasal naloxone not working include which of the following? | ||||
| 1 | The amount of narcotics in a victim’s body | 2 (0.88%) | 1 (0.48%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 2 | Consumption of more potent opioid drug | 2 (0.88%) | 0 (0.00%) | 0 (0.00%) |
| 3 | Mixed OD of drugs besides an opioid | 1 (0.44%) | 0 (0.00%) | 1 (0.55%) |
| 4 | Cause of unconsciousness may not be a narcotics OD | 3 (1.32%) | 0 (0.00%) | 2 (1.10%) |
| 5 | All of the above* | 219 (96.05%) | 203 (98.07%) | 178 (97.80%) |
| 99 | Skip/missing | 1 (0.44%) | 4 (1.93%) | 1 (0.55%) |