Shifts in Attitudes and Intentions to Practice Following Medication-Assisted Treatment Training

Abstract

Assistant (PA) program was one of the first PA programs in the country to incorporate medication-assisted treatment (MAT) into its curriculum. This manuscript documents the impact of the course. MethodsIn the spring and summer of 2018, 61 students and 12 local providers enrolled in an elective MAT course developed by Idaho State University. All completed the training. At the end of the course, only the students submitted reflective essays.Results A review and coding of the essays indicated that MAT education increased knowledge about addiction and resulted in self-reported decreases in negative attitudes towards people with addictions.Conclusion PA programs can support communities' increased capacity to offer MAT. A widely available course appears to result in important gains in both knowledge and attitude.