Substance abuse : official publication of the Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse
-
Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) can reduce alcohol use and negative health outcomes in patients with risky substance use. However, negative attitudes that some health care professionals have toward patients who use substances are a barrier to implementing SBIRT. ⋯ Nurses composing the largest group of healthcare workers are in key positions to screen, intervene, and provide education about substance use.
-
The objective of this study was to assess drinking patterns of Spanish-speaking patients using a bilingual computerized alcohol screening and brief intervention (CASI) tablet computer equipped with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). ⋯ This study indicated that CASI was an effective tool for detecting at-risk and likely dependent drinking behavior in Spanish-speaking ED patients. The majority of patients were ready to change their drinking behavior. More alcohol screening and brief intervention tools should be tested and become readily accessible for Spanish-speaking patients.
-
Evidence suggests that some physicians harbor negative attitudes towards patients with substance use disorders (SUDs). The study sought to (1) measure internal medicine residents' attitudes towards patients with SUDs and other conditions; (2) determine whether demographic factors influence regard for patients with SUDs; and (3) assess the efficacy of a 10-hour addiction medicine course for improving attitudes among a subset of residents. ⋯ Internal medicine residents demonstrate less regard for patients with SUDs. Participation in a course in addiction medicine was associated with modest attitude improvement; however, other efforts may be necessary to ensure that patients with potentially stigmatized conditions receive optimal care.
-
Mental health substance abuse (MHSA)-related visits in the emergency department (ED) are a growing concern. ⋯ Concentrated programmatic efforts to decrease the burden of MHSA visits to the ED may reduce the burden of disease.
-
Resident physicians are the direct care providers for many patients with addiction. This study assesses residents' self-perceived preparedness to diagnose and treat addiction, measures residents' perceptions of the quality of addictions instruction, and evaluates basic knowledge of addictions. ⋯ Despite providing care for a substantial population with addiction, the majority of internal medicine residents in this study feel unprepared to treat SUDs. More than half rate the quality of addictions instruction as fair or poor. Structured and comprehensive addictions curriculum and faculty development are needed to address the deficiencies of the current training system.