“We’ve Learned It’s a Medical Illness, Not a Moral Choice”: Qualitative Study of the Effects of a Multicomponent Addiction Intervention on Hospital Providers’ Attitudes and Experiences

• DOI: 10.12788/jhm.2993
• Publication Date: 2018-04-30T20:10:48Z
• Authors: Honora Englander; Devin Collins; Sylvia Peterson-P...; Molly Rabinowitz; Elena Phoutrides; Christina Nicolaidis
• Keywords: Thematic Analysis; Hospital medicine

Substance use disorders (SUD) represent a national epidemic with increasing rates of SUD-related hospitalizations. However, most hospitals lack expertise or systems to directly address SUD. Healthcare professionals feel underprepared and commonly hold negative views toward patients Little is known about how hospital interventions may affect providers' attitudes experiences SUD.To explore interprofessional perspectives on integrating SUD treatment care attitudes, beliefs, experiences.In-depth semi-structured interviews focus groups. The study was part formative evaluation the Improving Addiction Care Team (IMPACT), an hospital-based addiction medicine service rapid-access pathways post-hospital treatment.Single urban academic in Portland, Oregon.Multidisciplinary providers.We conducted thematic analysis using inductive approach at semantic level.Before IMPACT, participants felt that hospitalization did not addiction, leading untreated withdrawal, leaving against medical advice, chaotic care, staff "moral distress." Participants IMPACT "completely reframes" as treatable chronic disease, improving patient engagement communication, humanizing care. valued having reduced burnout provided relief. Providers noted had limited ability poverty engage highly ambivalent patients.Providers' distress caring for inevitable. Hospital-based can reframe have significant implications clinical well-being.