Undergraduate nursing students’ perceptions of substance use and misuse: a Brazilian position

Abstract

Alcohol, cocaine and cannabis are the substances most commonly abused in Brazil. There is limited evidence on the perceptions of undergraduate nursing students towards substance misuse. Negative attitudes, in combination with the lack of appropriate knowledge and skills, may result in minimal care provided to substance misusers. The aims of the study are to examine the knowledge and attitudes of undergraduate nursing students towards substance misusers and consider the implications of these attitudes for nursing education. The Nurse Education in Alcohol and Drug Educational Faculty Survey (NEADA) questionnaire on knowledge and education, nursing interventions, attitudes and values was distributed to undergraduate nurses (n = 227) in the south and south-eastern part of Brazil. The findings showed that there is a lack of adequate education in drug and alcohol use and misuse, including competency skills, but the participants were positive about treatment interventions. A paradigm shift in nurse education curricula and further research studies on attitudes and values towards substance misuse should be on the educational agenda. These are challenges faced by nurses to meet the healthcare needs of substance misusers.

Atitudes de estudantes de enfermagem frente questões relacionadas ao álcool, alcoolismo e alcoolista

“…Various studies (4)(5) indicate that Brazilian nursing students' preparation regarding alcohol and other drugs is insufficient. The present study data support these observations, as the participants revealed that, during their education, the average class and training time to work in the area is three hours at most.…”

“…Brazilian literature lacks publications on the issue (4)(5) , a fact that has made experts on the theme (4)(5) recommend further research, with a view to identifying nurses and nursing students' attitudes towards psychoactive substance users and related problems. In view of the above and the increased demand alcoholic patients pose at health services, entailing nursing students' greater contact with this population, this study was developed to examine attitudes towards alcohol, alcoholism and alcoholics in a sample of Brazilian nursing students.…”

“…Despite this new demand imposed on nursing practice, various studies (3)(4)(5) appoint that Brazilian nursing students are not being adequately prepared for care delivery to and coping with psychoactive substance-related problems. These professionals have received little education in the field of alcohol and other drugs with a view to care practice (3) .…”

“…A study developed in Brazil (5) to examine nursing students' knowledge and attitudes towards psychoactive substance addicts evidences that students had a positive attitude towards this type of patient, as the majority rejected the stereotype that these are unpleasant to work with and that alcoholism was related to a weak character.…”

“…Studies accomplished in the United States (6) , Australia (7) and England (8)(9) reveal that contents involving psychoactive substance use and abuse in nursing curricula are inadequate. Nurses and nursing students' lack of preparation to work with chemical addicts can entail negative attitudes when they are confronted with situations involving the use of alcohol and other drugs (5,(10)(11) , which ends up influencing the quality of care delivery (5,(12)(13)(14) . Studies on this theme have revealed that nursing students demonstrate negative attitudes towards chemical addicts (15) .…”