Stigma Surrounding People with Substance Use Disorder: A Scoping Review Examining Educational Programs

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Public Health
• Social Determinants of Health

Background:

• Stigma is a major social determinant of substance use disorder (SUD), negatively impacting recovery.
• Existing stigma awareness and reduction educational programs for healthcare providers are not well-documented.
• There is a need to understand current educational interventions to promote evidence-based programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review to identify educational programs used for training individuals about stigma toward people with SUD.
• To bridge the gap in understanding current stigma awareness and reduction education for healthcare professionals.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science.
• Two rounds of review (title/abstract and full-text) were performed on 1,099 articles.
• Content analysis was conducted by two independent researchers on 86 included articles.

Main Results:

• Educational programs were categorized by curriculum, scope, and intended audience.
• While many programs showed potential, only one was identified as evidence-based and sustainable for healthcare professionals.
• The identified program focused on stigma awareness/reduction but was tested only on first-year medical students.

Conclusions:

• Findings can guide the development and evaluation of evidence-based educational programs.
• Standardized stigma awareness/reduction education can be disseminated to nurses, healthcare professionals, and the public.
• Effective stigma education has the potential to positively impact individuals with SUD.