Inequalities in healthcare provision for individuals with substance use disorders: perspectives from healthcare professionals and clients

Abstract

Background: Little is known about inequalities in healthcare provision for individuals with substance use disorders. The main objective of this study was to assess expectations and perceptions of inequalities in healthcare provision among healthcare professionals (HCPs) and clients in treatment for substance use disorders.

Method: General practitioners, healthcare professionals (HCPs) of mental healthcare- and specialized addiction services, and clients in treatment for substance use disorders filled out a questionnaire in which expectations and perceptions of inequalities in healthcare provision were assessed. Descriptive statistics and ANOVAs were used to illustrate the expectations and perceptions of respondents and to compare groups of respondents.

Results: Approximately one-third of the respondents expected inequalities in healthcare provision, whereas perceptions of inequalities were less prevalent across all groups. Healthcare professionals were slightly more negative in their expectations compared to clients.

Conclusion: This study provides insights into expectations and perceptions of professionals and clients about inequalities in healthcare provision. This study adds to the scarce body of literature concerning inequalities in healthcare provision from the perspective of HCPs and clients. More research, such as observational research, are needed in order to gain a better understanding of inequalities in the healthcare provision for clients with substance use disorders.

• Attitude of health personnel
• healthcare disparities
• social stigma
• substance-related disorders

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all professionals and clients of the mental health and specialist addiction services GGzE, Dijk en Duin, Novadic-Kentron and Brijder Verslavingzorg for their participation in the present study.

According to the Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects, the Dutch law on medical research in humans is not applicable to this study, since it does not concern a medical-scientific study and participants were not imposed to a certain behavior or subject to certain proceedings. Therefore, ethical approval by an accredited MEC was not required.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.