Knowledge of and attitudes to substance misuse in undergraduate British medical students

Abstract

Aim: This study looks at changes in the knowledge of and attitudes towards substance misuse in medical students in two UK medical schools between years 1 and 4 of undergraduate training. Method: The instrument used comprised 20 questions regarding knowledge, attitudes to training, clinical practice, and stigma. Questionnaires were distributed to 1st and 4th year students. Data was entered onto Microsoft Excel worksheets and analysed using the Excel program. Results: There was an overall response rate of 75%. Knowledge was poor amongst the students, with little improvement seen between 1st and 4th years. Responses to attitudes to training were encouraging from both years of students at both schools. Attitudes to clinical practice demonstrate improvement between the 1st and 4th years. Negative attitudes to substance misuse greatly diminish from the 1st year to the 4th. Conclusions: Education and training in substance misuse are vital in the personal and professional development of medical students, who will become tomorrow's doctors. This study indicates that, while there is a degree of improvement in their knowledge about prevalence and complications related to substance misuse, there is a more clear cut change in attitudes to substance misusers and the value of treatment, as students progress through their years of training. However, an unacceptably high proportion of students still feel negatively about the patient population and about treatment prospects and prognosis.

Health professionals’ attitudes towards AOD-related work: Moving the traditional focus from education and training to organizational culture

“…screening and brief interventions, counselling, information and referral). Concerns have been raised, however, regarding limitations in the alcohol and other drug (AOD) knowledge and skills of these frontline workers, and their willingness to respond to AOD issues (Anderson et al, 2003;Arthur, 2001;Kaner, Heather, McAvoy, Lock, & Gilvarry, 1999;Karam-Hage, Nerenberg, & Brower, 2001;Landy, Hynes, Checinski, & Crome, 2005;Roche & Richard, 1991).…”

“…For example, Abouyanni et al (2000) found that 14% of the GPs who gave reasons for not prescribing methadone believed methadone maintenance to be ineffective. Landy et al (2005) found that 54% of fourth-year medical students in Britain perceived AOD treatment interventions to lack credible evidence. Doubts regarding the efficacy of available treatments or interventions have been identified as detracting from health professionals' willingness to intervene (Borrelli et al, 2001;Day, Arcelus, & Kahn, 1999;Kaner et al, 1999).…”

Narrative review of the impact of clinical psychiatry attachments on attitudes to psychiatry

“…55 Indeed, a large American survey found no association between duration of attachment and psychiatry recruitment. 56 The weak evidence of positive attitude change after a child and adolescent psychiatry placement 24,44 and strong evidence for change after addictions psychiatry 46,47,57 highlight the importance of exposing students to subspecialties. This increases awareness of the diversity within psychiatry.…”

“…In studies where attachments consisted of a block of a subspecialty of psychiatry, there was evidence of positive attitude change after attachments in child and adolescent psychiatry (weak evidence) 24,44 and addictions psychiatry (strong evidence). [45][46][47] Oakley & Oyebode 48 examined attitudes to the psychiatry curriculum. Students favoured more integration, with the overall curriculum and teaching focused on scenarios they expected to encounter in their early employment, such as suicide risk assessment.…”

The number, deployment, activities and attitudes of specialist consultant addiction psychiatrists in England: A national survey

“…Eighty percent believed that they should be undertaking less clinical work to facilitate their role as trainers. Addiction psychiatrists are important providers of training to junior doctors and medical students (Landy, Hynes, Checinski, & Crome, 2005). However, low numbers of consultants, their high clinical and managerial workload and the paucity of appropriate services in which to deliver such training interventions impose a ceiling on undergraduate training opportunities (Crome & Shaikh, 2004).…”