Integrated Education Reduces Negative Attitudes Toward Persons with Substance Use Disorders: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Addiction Psychiatry
• Medical Social Sciences

Background:

• Negative attitudes towards individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) among healthcare professionals can impede effective care.
• Educational interventions are crucial for improving perceptions, yet long-term effectiveness data in nursing students is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of integrated curricular content on substance use disorders (SUD) in reducing negative attitudes among undergraduate nursing students.
• To assess changes in student perceptions one year after completing the educational intervention.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving consenting undergraduate nursing students who completed the Drug and Drug Problems Perception Questionnaire (DDPPQ) anonymously online.
• Data collection occurred pre-intervention and one year post-intervention, following the integration of SUD curricular content across multiple courses.
• Statistical analysis focused on the time main effect to determine significant changes in attitudes.

Main Results:

• Pretest scores on the DDPPQ were significantly higher than posttest scores, indicating more negative attitudes before the educational intervention.
• A statistically significant time main effect was observed, demonstrating a reduction in negative attitudes over the one-year period.
• This study provides evidence for the sustained positive impact of the educational intervention on student perceptions.

Conclusions:

• Integrated educational content addressing substance use disorders (SUD) can effectively and durably reduce negative attitudes in undergraduate nursing students.
• This research is the first to examine the long-term impact of a reinforced, multi-course educational intervention on nursing students' attitudes toward individuals with SUD.
• Findings support the implementation of comprehensive, longitudinal educational strategies to combat stigma in future healthcare providers.