TY - JOUR
AU - B. Franz
AU - L . Y. Dhanani
AU - O. T. Hall
AU - D. L. Brook
AU - C. Fenstemaker
AU - J. E. Simon
AU - W. C. Miller
A1 - 
AB - BACKGROUND: Buprenorphine is a highly effective medication for opioid use disorder that is underused by health care professionals (HCPs). Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) misinformation may be an important barrier to buprenorphine access, but most implementation strategies have aimed to reduce negative attitudes towards patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) rather than misinformation specific to buprenorphine use. In this study, we assessed the degree to which HCPs endorsed misinformation related to buprenorphine, and whether this is associated with willingness to provide care to patients with OUD. METHODS: In September-December of 2022, we surveyed HCPs practicing in Ohio (n = 409). Our primary outcomes included a previously validated 5-item measure of HCP willingness to treat patients with OUD, and three other measures of willingness. Our key independent variable was a study-developed 5-item measure of endorsement of misinformation related to buprenorphine, which assessed beliefs in buprenorphine's efficacy in managing withdrawal symptoms and reducing overdose deaths as well as beliefs about the role of buprenorphine in achieving remission. We computed descriptive and bivariable statistics and fit regression models predicting each outcome of interest. RESULTS: On average, HCPs scored 2.34 out of 5.00 (SD = 0.80) on the composite measure of buprenorphine misinformation. 48.41% of participants endorsed at least one piece of misinformation. The most endorsed items were that buprenorphine is ineffective at reducing overdose deaths (M = 2.75, SD =0 .98), and that its use substitutes one drug for another (M = 2.41, SD = 1.25). HCP endorsement of buprenorphine misinformation significantly and negatively predicted willingness to work with patients with OUD (b = - 0.34; 95% CI - 0.46, - 0.21); intentions to increase time spent with this patient population (b = - 0.36; 95% CI - 5.86, - 1.28); receipt of an X-waiver (OR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.38, 0.77); and intention to get an X-waiver (OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.33-0.94). CONCLUSIONS: Misinformation is common among HCPs and associated with lower willingness to treat patients with OUD. Implementation strategies to increase MOUD use among HCPs should specifically counter misinformation related to buprenorphine. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05505227. Registered 17 August 2022, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05505227.
AD - Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Ohio University Athens, Heritage Hall 1, Athens, OH, 45701-2979, USA. franzb@ohio.edu.; Appalachian Institute to Advance Health Equity Science, Athens, OH, USA. franzb@ohio.edu.; Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations, Piscataway, NJ, USA.; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.; Ohio State University College of Public Health, Columbus, OH, USA.; Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Ohio University Athens, Heritage Hall 1, Athens, OH, 45701-2979, USA.; Appalachian Institute to Advance Health Equity Science, Athens, OH, USA.; Ohio University College of Health Sciences and Professions, Athens, OH, USA.; Gillings School of Public Health , University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
AN - 38243307
BT - Addict Sci Clin Pract
C5 - Opioids & Substance Use; Education & Workforce; Measures
CP - 1
DA - Jan 19
DO - 10.1186/s13722-024-00436-y
DP - NLM
ET - 20240119
IS - 1
JF - Addict Sci Clin Pract
LA - eng
N2 - BACKGROUND: Buprenorphine is a highly effective medication for opioid use disorder that is underused by health care professionals (HCPs). Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) misinformation may be an important barrier to buprenorphine access, but most implementation strategies have aimed to reduce negative attitudes towards patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) rather than misinformation specific to buprenorphine use. In this study, we assessed the degree to which HCPs endorsed misinformation related to buprenorphine, and whether this is associated with willingness to provide care to patients with OUD. METHODS: In September-December of 2022, we surveyed HCPs practicing in Ohio (n = 409). Our primary outcomes included a previously validated 5-item measure of HCP willingness to treat patients with OUD, and three other measures of willingness. Our key independent variable was a study-developed 5-item measure of endorsement of misinformation related to buprenorphine, which assessed beliefs in buprenorphine's efficacy in managing withdrawal symptoms and reducing overdose deaths as well as beliefs about the role of buprenorphine in achieving remission. We computed descriptive and bivariable statistics and fit regression models predicting each outcome of interest. RESULTS: On average, HCPs scored 2.34 out of 5.00 (SD = 0.80) on the composite measure of buprenorphine misinformation. 48.41% of participants endorsed at least one piece of misinformation. The most endorsed items were that buprenorphine is ineffective at reducing overdose deaths (M = 2.75, SD =0 .98), and that its use substitutes one drug for another (M = 2.41, SD = 1.25). HCP endorsement of buprenorphine misinformation significantly and negatively predicted willingness to work with patients with OUD (b = - 0.34; 95% CI - 0.46, - 0.21); intentions to increase time spent with this patient population (b = - 0.36; 95% CI - 5.86, - 1.28); receipt of an X-waiver (OR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.38, 0.77); and intention to get an X-waiver (OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.33-0.94). CONCLUSIONS: Misinformation is common among HCPs and associated with lower willingness to treat patients with OUD. Implementation strategies to increase MOUD use among HCPs should specifically counter misinformation related to buprenorphine. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05505227. Registered 17 August 2022, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05505227.
PY - 2024
SN - 1940-0632 (Print); 1940-0632
SP - 7
ST - Buprenorphine misinformation and willingness to treat patients with opioid use disorder among primary care-aligned health care professionals
T1 - Buprenorphine misinformation and willingness to treat patients with opioid use disorder among primary care-aligned health care professionals
T2 - Addict Sci Clin Pract
TI - Buprenorphine misinformation and willingness to treat patients with opioid use disorder among primary care-aligned health care professionals
U1 - Opioids & Substance Use; Education & Workforce; Measures
U3 - 10.1186/s13722-024-00436-y
VL - 19
VO - 1940-0632 (Print); 1940-0632
Y1 - 2024
ER -