Training primary health care workers about drugs: a national survey of UK trainers' perceptions towards training

Reports have consistently shown that non-specialist drug workers (whose working role is not specifically concentrated on dealing with drug-related issues) are reluctant to work with drug users. A number of explanations have been offered to account for this unwillingness including attitudinal factors, occupational constraints and a lack of motivation to learn about drug-related issues. Previously, it has been shown that training affects commitment to working with substance misusers, although failure to attract particular professional groups (e.g. general practitioners) into training courses has also been reported. No previous research has examined the views of trainers about training primary health care and health-related workers. This study of a (non-probability) sample of UK drug trainers (n = 145) assessed training activity for different health care workers, and trainers' differential perceptions of training needs and methods. GPs were the group least likely to become trained about drug issues. Training in attitudes towards drug using individuals was perceived to be more important than either skills or knowledge training for GPs, practice nurses, other nurses and probation officers. Experiential training methods were perceived to be more important than a didactic approach for training all health groups except GPs for whom lecture type instruction was believed to be equally appropriate. Seventy-nine percent of subjects reported providing training across drugs in alcohol or drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Most trainers who stated that certain professions required independent training believed that GPs should be trained separately from other groups.     

Unhealthy alcohol use in primary care patients who screen positive for drug use

Background: Unhealthy alcohol use (UAU) is common among people who use other drugs; however, little information is available about UAU among patients who screen positive for drugs in primary care, where the clinical priority might be assumed to be drug use. This study aimed at describing the occurrence of UAU and its association with substance use–related outcomes in such patients. Methods: This cohort study is a secondary analysis of data from a randomized trial of brief intervention for primary care patients screening positive for drug use. UAU was assessed at baseline; the main independent variable was any heavy drinking day in the past month. Outcomes including drug use characteristics and substance use–related consequences were assessed at baseline and 6 months later. Results: Of 589 primary care patients with drug use, 48% had at least 1 past-month heavy drinking day. The self-identified main drug was marijuana for 64%, cocaine for 18%, and an opioid for 16%. Any heavy drinking at baseline was negatively associated with number of days use of the main drug at 6 months (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62–0.91), but positively associated with the use of more than 1 drug (IRR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.17–2.55) and unsafe sex (odds ratio [OR] = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.21–2.98). Conclusion: Unhealthy alcohol use is common among patients identified by screening in primary care as using other drugs. Unexpectedly, UAU was negatively associated with days of main drug use. But, as expected, it was positively associated with other drug use characteristics and substance use–related consequences. These findings suggest that attention should be given to alcohol use among primary care patients who use other drugs.     

Substance use among persons with homeless experience in primary care

ABSTRACT

Background: Community survey data suggest high prevalence of substance use disorders among currently homeless individuals. There are less data regarding illicit drug and alcohol use problems of homeless-experienced persons engaged in primary care. They may have less severe use and require different care responses from primary care teams. Methods: The authors surveyed currently and formerly homeless, i.e., homeless-experienced, persons engaged in primary care at five federally funded programs in the United States, administering the World Health Organization (WHO) Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). The ASSIST definitions of lower, moderate, and high risk were used to assess a spectrum of lifetime and recent substance use, from any use to likely dependence, and to identify sociodemographic and health status characteristics associated with severity of use. Results: Almost one half of the sample (N = 601) had recently (within the past three months) used alcohol, and one third had recently used an illicit drug. The most commonly used illicit drugs in the past three months were cannabis (19%), cocaine (16%), and opioids (7.5%). Over one half (59%) of respondents had ASSIST-defined moderate- or high-risk substance use. A significant proportion (31%) of those identified as at moderate risk had no recent substance use, but did report past problematic use. Ten percent of the lower-risk group had past problematic use of alcohol. Severity of use was associated with worse health status, but not with housing status or type of homelessness experienced. Conclusions: Less severe (moderate-risk) use and past problematic use, potentially indicative of remitted substance use disorders, were more common than high-risk use in this primary care, homeless-experienced sample. These findings highlight the urgency of identifying effective ways to reduce risky substance use and prevent relapse in homeless-experienced persons.     

Drinking patterns,gender and health II: Predictors of preventive service use

Background: Chronic diseases and injuries are elevated among people with substance use problems/dependence, yet heavier drinkers use fewer routine and preventive health services than non-drinkers and moderate drinkers, while former drinkers and abstainers use more than moderate drinkers. Researchers hypothesize that drinking clusters with attitudes and practices that produce better health among moderate drinkers and that heavy drinkers avoid doctors until they become ill, subsequently quitting and using more services. Gender differences in alcohol consumption, health-related attitudes, practices, and prevention-services use may affect these relationships.

Methods: A stratified random sample of health-plan members (7884; 2995 males, 4889 females) completed a mail survey that was linked to 24 months of health-plan records. Data were used to examine relationships between alcohol use, gender, health-related attitudes/practices, health, and prevention-service use.

Results: Controlling for attitudes, practices, and health, female lifelong abstainers and former drinkers were less likely to have mammograms; individuals with alcohol-use disorders and positive AUDIT scores were less likely to obtain influenza vaccinations. AUDIT-positive women were less likely to undergo colorectal screening than AUDIT-positive men. Consistent predictors of prevention-services use were: self-report of having a primary care provider (positive); disliking visiting the doctor (negative); smoking cigarettes (negative), and higher body mass index (BMI) (negative).

Conclusions: When factors associated with drinking are controlled, patterns of alcohol consumption have limited effects on preventive service use. Individuals with stigmatized behaviors (e.g., hazardous/harmful drinking, smoking, or high BMIs) are less likely to receive care. Making care experiences positive and carefully addressing stigmatized health practices could increase preventive service use.     

基层医疗机构药事管理与合理用药现状及应对思考

目的为充分发挥上级卫生行政部门对基层医疗机构的监督和管理提供切实的参考资料。方法通过实地调研,分析基层医疗机构药事管理及合理用药现状。结果基层医疗机构的药事管理与合理用药存在诸多不足之处,与国家相关法律法规的要求尚有明显差距。结论医药工作者要加强政策法规的学习,正确认识医疗机构药事管理的重要性,以"考核"为契机,构筑基层医疗机构合理用药的屏障。     

某院儿科门诊超说明书用药情况调查与分析

目的：回顾性调查某院儿科门诊超说明书用药情况,为门诊合理用药提供依据,进一步规范儿科药学服务。方法：分层随机抽取该院2015年10月-2016年3月儿科门诊处方,对患儿基本信息、用药情况进行记录,根据药品说明书判断是否属于超说明书用药。结果：共抽取儿科处方2 407张,含4 354条用药医嘱。其中,超说明书用药发生率分别为58.83%,42.88%,超说明书用药类型主要包括未提及儿童用药信息（34.63%）、超适应证（27.44%）、超剂量（11.65%）和超给药频次（10.29%）4种。各年龄段患儿超说明书用药发生率存在差异,青少年（12~18岁）发生率最高。超说明书用药构成比前3位分别是抗微生物药物（38.62%）、呼吸系统用药（23.85%）和中成药（15.37%）。结论：该院儿科门诊超说明书用药情况较为普遍,多种药物说明书中儿童用药信息较缺乏,儿童用药安全难以保障,亟需临床药师和药品监督管理部门在合理用药工作中发挥更大作用。     

Drinking patterns,gender and health III: Avoiding versus seeking health care

Background: Inability to predict most health services use and costs using demographics and health status suggests that other factors affect use, including attitudes and practices that influence health and willingness to seek care. Alcohol consumption has generated interest because heavy, chronic consumption causes adverse health consequences, acute consumption increases injury, and moderate drinking is linked to better health while hazardous drinking and alcohol-related problems are stigmatized and may affect willingness to seek care.

Methods: A stratified random sample of health-plan members completed a mail survey, yielding 7884 respondents (2995 male/4889 female). We linked survey data to 24 months of health-plan records to examine relationships between alcohol use, gender, health-related attitudes, practices, health, and service use. In-depth interviews with a stratified 150-respondent subsample explored individuals’ reasons for seeking or avoiding care.

Results: Quantitative results suggest health-related practices and attitudes predict subsequent service use. Consistent predictors of care were having quit drinking, current at-risk consumption, cigarette smoking, higher body mass index, disliking visiting doctors, and strong religious/spiritual beliefs. Qualitative analyses suggest embarrassment and shame are strong motivators for avoiding care.

Conclusions: Although models included numerous health, functional status, attitudinal and behavioral predictors, variance explained was similar to previous reports, suggesting more complex relationships than expected. Qualitative analyses suggest several potential predictive factors not typically measured in service-use studies: embarrassment and shame, fear, faith that the body will heal, expectations about likelihood of becoming seriously ill, disliking the care process, the need to understand health problems, and the effects of self-assessments of health-related functional limitations.