Identification of Physician Barriers to the Application of Screening and Brief Intervention for Problem Alcohol and Drug Use

Abstract

Alcohol/other drug use (AOD) is related to many other health problems, thus making the topic of great public health significance. This article presents the results of focus groups conducted with physicians across the State of Pennsylvania as part of the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (PA SBIRT) project. The purpose was to ascertain the barriers to identifying problem AOD use in patients by practicing physicians. Physicians statewide acknowledged key barriers to screening, including time, access to treatment, and financial resources, both patient financial issues and reimbursement from insurers or commercial payers. Additional barriers that were identified as a result of the focus groups included the stigmatizing attitude toward AOD use, physicians' lack of self-efficacy in managing AOD use disorders, and lack of knowledge in this area, among others. The study discusses the results of the focus groups and explores educational and other strategies that could be offered to physicians in order to increase their knowledge, capabilities, and motivation in the area of screening and the identification of problem AOD use.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol/other drugs (AOD)
• screening
• brief intervention
• physician