Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
11:14
Rapid High-throughput Species Identification of Botanical Material Using Direct Analysis in Real Time High Resolution Mass Spectrometry
Published on: October 2, 2016
Kratom in Clinical Practice: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Screening Behaviors Among U.S.-Based Healthcare Providers
Patricia Timmons1, Raminta Daniulaityte1, Chung Jung Mun2,3,4
1College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Substance Use & Misuse
|July 9, 2026
Summary
Healthcare providers show limited screening for kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) use, despite its growing prevalence. Improving provider knowledge is key to enhancing kratom use identification and management in clinical settings.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Public Health
- Clinical Practice
Background:
- Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is increasingly used for pain management, opioid dependence, and mood enhancement in the U.S.
- Limited data exists on healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes, and screening practices regarding kratom use.
- Understanding these factors is crucial given the growing prevalence of kratom use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess knowledge, attitudes, and screening practices of U.S. licensed healthcare providers concerning kratom use.
- To identify factors influencing the frequency of screening for kratom use among healthcare providers.
Main Methods:
- A web-based survey was administered to U.S. licensed healthcare providers between October and December 2025.
- Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and chi-square tests were used for group comparisons.
- Multiple linear regression analyzed factors associated with screening frequency for kratom use.
Main Results:
- Most surveyed providers (N=136) were White (72.8%), female (68.4%), with an average age of 45.1 years.
- While 78.7% were aware of kratom, only 33.6% felt comfortable discussing it, and 41% were confident assessing problematic use.
- Only 7.8% consistently screened for kratom use; self-rated knowledge (β=0.70, p<0.001) and being female (β=0.63, p<0.01) predicted higher screening frequency.
Conclusions:
- Screening for kratom use is not consistently integrated into U.S. clinical practice.
- Healthcare providers' self-perceived knowledge significantly impacts their screening practices.
- Educational initiatives and assessment strategies are needed to improve the identification of kratom use in diverse clinical settings.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Preventive Healthcare Services
Preventive healthcare services keep people healthy via frequent check-ups, screening, and counseling. They primarily aid in disease prevention rather than treating an acute or chronic illness. Preventive treatment also keeps individuals productive and energetic, allowing them to work well into their retirement years. Examples of preventive care services include:
01:17Healthcare Agencies II
There are various healthcare agencies in the United States—some of which are managed by religious institutions and others by different government branches.
Parish nursing is a growing specialty nursing profession that focuses on holistic healthcare, health promotion, and illness prevention. It blends professional nursing practice with a health ministry, focusing on health and healing within the context of a Christian community. Parish nurses serve as health educators, referral sources, and lay...
Parish nursing is a growing specialty nursing profession that focuses on holistic healthcare, health promotion, and illness prevention. It blends professional nursing practice with a health ministry, focusing on health and healing within the context of a Christian community. Parish nurses serve as health educators, referral sources, and lay...
01:11Clinical Trials: Overview
Clinical development focuses on how the drug will interact with the human body and encompasses four key phases of clinical trials, each serving a specific purpose in assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. These phases overlap and build upon one another. Phase I involves a small group of healthy volunteers (typically 20-80 individuals) or, in cases where significant toxicity is expected, patients with the targeted disease, such as cancer or AIDS. The volunteers are tested for...
01:16Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are prospective experimental studies conducted on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of treatments, drugs, diet methods, and medical devices. Using statistics in clinical trials enables researchers to derive reasonable and accurate conclusions from the collected data, allowing them to make wise decisions in uncertain situations. In medical research, statistical methods are crucial for preventing errors and bias.
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
Essential infection prevention measures are based on the knowledge of the infection chain, the modes of transmission in healthcare settings, and the use of the best practices in all healthcare settings. Compulsory public reporting of healthcare-associated infection rates is needed to allow individuals and the community to make informed choices regarding selecting a healthcare facility.
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:26Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios
Pharmaceutical poisoning can occur through various channels, impacting an estimated 2 million hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually with serious adverse drug responses. These scenarios encompass both therapeutic uses, such as drug toxicity, where even standard dosages can lead to severe central nervous system depression, and non-therapeutic exposures, including accidental ingestion by children, and environmental and occupational exposures.Unintentional poisonings often involve exploratory...