Substance Use Disorder Education in Physical Therapy Curricula

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Substance use disorder (SUD) is a significant public health issue.
• Healthcare professionals, including physical therapists, play a role in patient care related to SUDs.
• Understanding current educational approaches is vital for improving training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current state of substance use disorder (SUD) curricula in accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs in the US.
• To explore faculty expertise and perceptions regarding the integration of SUD content.
• To identify common teaching methods and content areas within DPT programs.

Main Methods:

• An 18-item survey was distributed to program directors of accredited DPT programs.
• Data collected included SUD curricular content, implementation barriers, faculty expertise, and demographics.
• Survey responses were analyzed using frequencies and percentages.

Main Results:

• 34 out of 242 (14%) accredited DPT programs participated.
• All responding programs included SUD content, but with considerable variation in delivery and hours.
• Signs and symptoms of SUD were commonly taught (88%), while brief negotiated interviews were least common (18%).

Conclusions:

• Current substance use disorder (SUD) curricula in DPT programs may require expansion.
• Integrating evidence-based SUD assessment and curricular guidelines is recommended.
• This will better prepare entry-level physical therapists to address SUDs in practice.