Nursing students' attitudes towards alcohol use disorders and related issues: A comparative study in four American countries

Evaluation of nurses' attitudes and behaviors regarding narcotic drug safety and addiction: a descriptive cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

By evaluating nurses' attitudes and behaviors regarding narcotic drug safety and addiction, effective strategies need to be developed for combating addiction in healthcare institutions. This study, aimed at providing an insight into patient and staff safety issues through the formulation of health policies, aimed to evaluate nurses' attitudes and behaviors regarding narcotic drug safety and addiction.

METHODS

The study was conducted in a descriptive cross-sectional design. It was carried out with 191 nurses in a public hospital between March 2023 and August 2023. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, gathering socio-demographic information and utilizing the Addictive Substance Attitude Scale. The data were analyzed using independent sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA tests, and regression analysis (P < .001 and p < .05).

RESULTS

The average age of the participants was determined to be 36.58 ± 8.40. It was reported by 85.3% of nurses that narcotic drug follow-ups in their units were conducted according to procedures. In the study, it was found that 63.9% of nurses did not know the procedure to be followed towards a healthcare professional identified as a narcotic substance addict. The total mean score of the Addictive Substance Attitude Scale of nurses participating in the study was 74.27 ± 14.70. A significant difference was found between the total scores of the scale and the level of education of nurses, the follow-up status of the drugs in the unit where they work, their status of receiving narcotic drug addiction training, and their routine use of the half-dose drug disposal form (p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study underscore the importance of evaluating nurses' attitudes and behaviors regarding narcotic drug safety and addiction. These results indicate the need for nursing administrators, particularly in terms of patient and staff safety, to adopt more effective policies and strategies.

Stigma Against Patients With Substance Use Disorders Among Health Care Professionals and Trainees and Stigma-Reducing Interventions: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

In this systematic review, the authors examine the prevalence and extent of stigmatizing attitudes among health care professionals (HCPs) and trainees against patients with substance use disorders (SUDs), including research on interventions to reduce stigma.

METHOD

The authors searched 7 databases for articles published from January 1, 2011, through February 15, 2023, that quantified SUD stigma among HCPs or trainees. Inclusion criteria allowed both observational and intervention studies from the United States or Canada to be included in this review. Quality assessment was applied to all included studies; studies were not excluded based on quality.

RESULTS

A total of 1,992 unique articles were identified of which 32 articles (17 observational studies and 15 intervention studies), all conducted in the United States, met the inclusion criteria. Half of the included studies (16 of 32) were published in 2020 or later. Most of the intervention studies (13 of 15) used a single-group pre-post design; interventions involved didactics and/or interactions with persons with SUDs. The 32 included studies used a total of 19 different measures of stigma. All 17 observational studies showed some degree of HCP or trainee stigma against patients with SUDs. Most intervention studies (12 of 15) found small but statistically significant reductions in stigma after intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

SUD stigma exists among HCPs and trainees. Some interventions to reduce this stigma had positive impacts, but future studies with larger, diverse participants and comparison groups are needed. Heterogeneity among studies and stigma measures limits the ability to interpret results across studies. Future rigorous research is needed to determine validated, consensus measures of SUD stigma among HCPs and trainees, identify stigma scores that are associated with clinical outcomes, and develop effective antistigma interventions for HCPs and trainees.

Barriers to providing quality care for patients with substance use disorders from the perspective of baccalaureate nursing students: A descriptive qualitative study

BACKGROUND

With Iran facing an epidemic in substance use disorders, nursing students are increasingly encountering people impacted by substance misuse. Providing care for this group brings with it many barriers and challenges. These serious barriers have not been a priority in Iranian nurse education.

OBJECTIVES

To describe barriers to providing quality care for people with substance use disorders from the perspective of nursing students.

DESIGN

A descriptive qualitative study, using content analysis was used to address the study aim.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants. Participants were 34 baccalaureate nursing students from different academic semesters studying at two medical sciences universities in Iran.

METHODS

Data were collected using semi-structured interviews from July 2022 to October 2022. Granheim & Lundman's method for qualitative content analysis was used to analyze data.

RESULTS

The barriers to providing quality care for people with substance use disorders were described through the major theme: "lack of communication skills and difficulty finding language for therapeutic communication with people with substance use disorders". Based on nursing student perspectives, a lack of communication and language for therapeutic communication was described through the three barriers of: 1. "possessing or witnessing prejudiced attitudes and stereotypes", 2 "negative role models", and 3. "Knowledge deficit in self or others".

CONCLUSION

The result of this study showed that nursing students interact with people with substance use disorders through prejudiced attitudes, negative stereotypes, and knowledge deficits. Academic education should include practical techniques to reduce negative stereotypes and moral distress among nursing students as well as strategies to manage tough ethical situations and decrease prejudiced attitudes. Nurses and clinical educators must be attentive to their power to influence nursing students and should model appropriate unbiased behavior and language.

Is the Clinical Practicum in Addiction Treatment Facilities an Effective Educational Intervention to Improve Nursing Students' Attitudes Toward Alcohol Use Disorders?

ABSTRACT

The paucity of education and training on alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in nursing curricula is the main predictor of negative attitudes and results in limited knowledge access and delivery of health care for persons experiencing these problems. Although experts advocate increasing the time devoted to alcohol-related content in a crowded curriculum, didactic strategies for teaching about addiction in prequalifying nursing education have been discussed. This study aimed to verify the effectiveness of an educational experience that integrated clinical practicum experience in addiction treatment facilities for nursing students' attitudes. A quasi-experimental one-group study with pre-and-post 3-month follow-ups was carried out with 108 nursing students who answered the Attitudes Scale toward Alcohol, Alcohol Use Disorder, and Patients with Alcohol Use Disorders. The effect of the clinical practicum was apparent, with statistically significant changes to more positive global attitude scores in all measures. Previous educational intervention for AUDs during nursing education was a predictor of positive attitudes (OR = 7.21, p < .04). Students' self-perceived skills and professional preparation to deliver and direct care for patients with AUDs improved after the intervention, suggesting that clinical practice influenced students' skills for AUD identification across nursing practice. Previous contact with this population with lack of training in substance use disorder seems to favor negative attitude development. Clinical practicum experience in addiction treatment facilities improved nursing students' attitudes toward AUDs and patients with AUDs, and its effects were sustained 3 months later.

A commentary on the Pan American Network of Nursing and Midwifery Collaborating Centres

This article provides a commentary on the Pan American Network of Nursing and Midwifery Collaborating Centres (PANMCC). The objectives are to present an overview of the formation and evolution of the network, its impact on education, research, policy and communication and the benefits of membership. The advantages of international networks as a mechanism to strengthen nursing and midwifery workforces and improve health systems are also highlighted. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Health Organization (WHO) Office in the Americas, oversees collaborating centres in the Region. Established in 1999, PANMCC consists of 17 centres situated in universities and schools of nursing. These centres provide crucial nursing and midwifery input to PAHO/WHO. The network supports global engagement and capacity building via collaboration, resource sharing and research colloquia. The linkages within the network enhance professional development, increase capacity building and heighten visibility of PANMCC and the work of its members.