233876 Relationships between infection-related knowledge, opinions, expertise, and training among clinicians in addiction treatment programs

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Tamon Charles , Division of Medical Services, Research and Information Technology, Addiction Research and Treatment Corporation, Brooklyn, NY
Lawrence S. Brown, MD, MPH, FASAM , Division of Medical Services, Research and Information Technology, Addiction Research and Treatment Corporation, Brooklyn, NY
Steven Kritz, MD , Division of Medical Services, Research and Information Technology, Addiction Research and Treatment Corporation, Brooklyn, NY
Roberto Zavala, MD , Division of Medical Services, Research and Information Technology, Addiction Research and Treatment Corporation, Brooklyn, NY
Melissa Lin, MS , Division of Medical Services, Research and Information Technology, Addiction Research and Treatment Corporation, Brooklyn, NY
Background: In HIV care, evidence exists of relationships between clinical outcome and provider experience, knowledge, and expertise. However, relationships between clinician characteristics and availability of infection-related services have not been reported. We investigated these relationships among clinical staff and associations with availability of HIV counseling and testing services among addiction treatment programs.

Methods: In a cross-sectional, descriptive, multisite structured survey study sponsored by the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network, we analyzed responses from 269 addiction program administrators and 1716 clinicians concerning clinicians' infection-related opinions, knowledge, expertise, and training. Opinions were assessed using 5-point Likert scale, while the knowledge component contained 20 closed-end questions.

Results: Among 1350 non-medical clinicians, mean percent correct responses to knowledge questions was 53%. For 366 medical clinicians, mean percent correct responses to knowledge questions was 62%. Comfort discussing intimate sexual relationships with women having sex with women was endorsed by 79% of non-medical staff compared to 71% of medical staff, while 95% of non-medical staff viewed substance abuse prevention as important compared to 97% of medical staff. Mean percent correct responses was significantly associated with expertise and opinions of clinicians, and HIV testing, but not counseling availability. HIV counseling and testing was associated with ongoing staff training and experience, and the program administrators' opinion regarding necessity of full abstinence to successful HIV-related interventions.

Conclusions: This study provided empirical support for relationships between clinician knowledge and opinions, and relationships between availability of infection-related services and staff training, experience, and administrator opinions in addiction treatment programs.

Learning Areas:
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
To learn about the empirical evidence of an association between clinician knowledge and a) clinician experience and b) clinician expertise pertaining to infection-related health. To learn the association between the availability of infection-related health services in addiction treatment programs and the opinions of the administrators of these programs. To learn the association between the availability of infection-related health services in addiction treatment programs and ongoing staff training pertaining to infection-related health.

Keywords: Substance Abuse Treatment, Infectious Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was involved in the compilation of the material for this presentation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4232.0: Other Critical Issues Across the Spectrum of Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Drugs