Substance Use Disorder Education in Medical Schools: A Scoping Review

PURPOSE

As medical schools adapt their curricula to prepare future physicians for the opioid crisis and for treating patients with substance use disorders (SUDs), educators should refer to courses described in the literature. This scoping review aimed to (1) provide a comprehensive evaluation and summation of peer-reviewed literature reporting on SUD education in medical schools globally and (2) appraise the research quality and educational outcomes reported in SUD education studies in medical schools.

METHOD

The authors searched 6 databases (3 Ovid MEDLINE databases, Embase, ERIC, and Web of Science) from inception through May 25, 2018. Original English-language research studies focusing on medical students and describing SUD education in medical schools were included. The Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI) was used to assess included studies.

RESULTS

Of 3,178 articles identified, 43 met inclusion criteria. Studies were conducted in 9 countries. Most reported on educational interventions for tobacco (n = 20; 47%); others reported on interventions for SUDs broadly (n = 15; 35%), alcohol (n = 8; 19%), and opioids (n = 1; 2%). The mean MERSQI score was 12.27 (standard deviation 2.30). Four studies (9%) reported on educational outcomes at the level of behaviors or patient or health care outcomes. The majority (n = 39; 91%) reported significant benefits.

CONCLUSIONS

Educational interventions relating to SUDs were effective in improving medical students' knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Educators should develop courses that achieve higher-level educational outcomes, increase education on opioid use disorders, and focus on the greatest public health concerns.

The Topic of Alcohol within the Scottish Occupational Therapy Curricula

Introduction:

Scotland has witnessed a large rise in all types of alcohol-related illnesses, and in alcohol-related deaths. Despite this escalating problem, previous research in Scotland has demonstrated that gaps exist in the knowledge base of graduate occupational therapists. This study therefore aimed to document the content of alcohol in Scottish occupational therapy curricula.

Method:

This study was conducted during 2010–11. A questionnaire was sent to the programme leader of all the Scottish Higher Education Institutes offering a BSc (Hons) degree in occupational therapy, and to the only Further Education College in Scotland offering a Higher National Certificate in occupational therapy. The response rate was 100%.

Findings:

There is a lack of cohesive approach to alcohol misuse education within the occupational therapy curricula delivered in Scotland. Key proposals of the Scottish Government targeting alcohol misuse are inadequately addressed.

Conclusion:

The topic of alcohol and alcohol misuse is taught to varying degrees within the curricula offered in Scotland and further emphasis needs to be placed on understanding alcohol misuse and associated potential interventions, irrespective of practice context.

A brief report on perceptions of alcohol and society among Scottish medical students

AIMS

To assess perceptions on alcohol misuse and addiction among medical students prior to in-depth training in order to determine areas of the curriculum that need to be reshaped or focused on.

METHODS

A questionnaire assessment of first- and second-year medical students' perceptions of alcohol misuse.

RESULTS

Students had some misconceptions about current alcohol misuse rates, including a perception that addiction is common among health professionals, that the under-25s had the fastest increasing rate of alcohol addiction and that British women had a more rapidly increasing rate of alcohol addiction than British men.

CONCLUSION

Encouragingly, students overwhelmingly felt that alcohol addiction was something to which they could make a difference. It highlights that early education about alcohol misuse is important in terms of teaching students how to recognize hazardous and harmful drinkers and how to manage them.