Factors Shaping Medical Student Attitudes Toward Harm Reduction.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Physicians' biases toward people who use drugs (PWUD) can compromise patient care.
• Medical school curricula often lack essential substance use disorder treatment and harm reduction education.
• This educational gap may shape future physicians' perceptions and treatment of PWUD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess medical students' attitudes, knowledge, and self-confidence regarding substance use and harm reduction.
• To identify factors influencing positive attitudes and self-confidence in managing patients with substance use disorders.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous online survey was administered to medical students at Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.
• The survey included questions on demographics, prior exposure to PWUD, attitudes toward drug use, and substance use treatment.
• 172 out of 496 students completed the survey, providing data on attitudes, knowledge, and self-confidence.

Main Results:

• Clinical students demonstrated significantly more positive attitudes toward PWUD than preclinical students.
• Students with personal or professional experience with PWUD reported more positive attitudes and greater knowledge.
• Despite positive trends with exposure, knowledge and self-confidence gaps persist, especially among preclinical students.

Conclusions:

• Exposure to PWUD appears to enhance medical students' attitudes and knowledge concerning substance use disorders.
• Earlier integration of harm reduction and substance use education into medical curricula is recommended.
• Addressing educational gaps can better equip future physicians to provide equitable care to PWUD.