Support of supervised injection facilities by emergency physicians in Canada

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Emergency Medicine
• Addiction Services

Background:

• Supervised injection facilities (SIFs) have evidence supporting their implementation.
• No prior studies have evaluated emergency physicians' attitudes towards SIFs in Canada or globally.
• This study addresses a gap in understanding physician perspectives on SIFs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine Canadian emergency physicians' opinions and perceptions regarding the implementation of supervised injection facilities (SIFs).
• To assess the level of support for SIFs among emergency physicians.
• To evaluate the likelihood of emergency physicians referring patients to SIFs.

Main Methods:

• A national electronic survey was distributed to staff and resident emergency physicians in Canada.
• The survey tool was iteratively designed in consultation with content experts.
• Data analysis included 250 responses from eligible physicians.

Main Results:

• A significant majority of respondents (74.5%) supported the implementation of SIFs in their communities.
• The majority (84.6%) indicated they would refer patients to SIFs if available.
• Only 10.8% opposed SIF implementation, and 4.3% would not refer patients.

Conclusions:

• The majority of Canadian emergency physicians support supervised injection facilities.
• Emergency physicians are willing to refer patients to SIFs, indicating potential for improved patient-centered outcomes.
• Findings suggest emergency physicians would utilize SIFs to serve a marginalized population.