Impact of a multicomponent screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) training curriculum on a medical residency program

ABSTRACT

Background: Substance-related disorders are a growing problem in the United States. The patient-provider setting can serve as a crucial environment to detect and prevent at-risk substance use. Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) is an integrated approach to deliver early intervention and treatment services for persons who have or are at risk for substance-related disorders. SBIRT training components can include online modules, in-person instruction, practical experience, and clinical skills assessment. This paper will evaluate the impact of multiple modes of training on acquisition of SBIRT skills as observed in a clinical skills assessment. Methods: Residents were part of an SBIRT training program, from 2009 through 2013, consisting of lecture, role-play, online modules, patient encounters, and clinical skills assessment (CSA). Differences were assessed across satisfactory and unsatisfactory CSA performance. Results: Seventy percent of the residents satisfactorily completed CSA. Demographics, type of components completed, and number of components completed were similar among residents who demonstrated satisfactory clinical skills compared with those who did not. All components of the training program were accepted equally across specialties and resident matriculation cohorts. Conclusion: The authors conclude that the components employed in SBIRT training do not have to be numerous or of a particular mode of training in order to see observable demonstration of SBIRT skills among medical residents. Thus, residency educators who have limited time or resources may utilize as few as 1 mode of training to effectually disseminate SBIRT skills among health care providers. As SBIRT continues to evolve as a promising tool to address at-risk substance-related disorders, it is critical to train medical residents and other health professionals.

KEYWORDS:

• Internship and residency
• SBIRT
• substance-related disorders
• training

Author contributions

Ms. Kalu conceptualized the manuscript, wrote, analyzed and interpreted data, and edited the manuscript. Ms. Cain, Dr. McLaurin-Jones, and Dr. Scott collected data, wrote, and edited the manuscript. Dr. Kwagyan interpreted data, edited, and revised the manuscript. Dr. Fassassi and Dr. Greene wrote and edited the manuscript. Dr. Taylor conceptualized research and design.

Funding

This work was supported by a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment grant (5U79TI020245). The funding agency solely supplied funds for the training reported in this work. The funding agency did not contribute to the composition of the submission. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.