Implementing a Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment Curriculum for Medical Students on their...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health
• Substance Use Disorders

Background:

• Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based approach for addressing unhealthy alcohol and drug use.
• There is a growing need to train healthcare professionals in SBIRT.
• Motivational interviewing is a key component of SBIRT for promoting behavior change.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a curriculum aimed at enhancing medical students' attitudes and proficiency in administering SBIRT.
• To assess the impact of the curriculum on students' knowledge and practical skills.

Main Methods:

• A curriculum integrating didactic sessions, Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE), and practical SBIRT delivery was implemented in an emergency department clerkship.
• The curriculum was developed collaboratively with educators from medicine, nursing, and social work.
• Student learning was evaluated through pre- and post-curriculum assessments of attitudes, preparedness, and knowledge, alongside OSCE performance.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in students' attitudes, preparedness (p < .001), and knowledge (p = .002) post-curriculum.
• Student performance in standardized patient encounters, assessed via OSCE, showed significant improvement between the first and third encounters (p = .03).
• Fifty-six medical students participated in the study.

Conclusions:

• The developed curriculum effectively improved medical students' understanding and application of SBIRT principles and motivational interviewing.
• Implementing such training programs can better prepare future physicians to integrate substance use screening and intervention into clinical practice.
• This approach supports evidence-based patient care for substance use disorders.