TY - JOUR
KW - Alcohol and Drug
KW - Buprenorphine/administration & dosage/therapeutic use
KW - Confidentiality
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Evidence-based Care
KW - Female
KW - General/Family Practice
KW - Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
KW - Health Needs Assessment
KW - Health Service reform
KW - Health Services Accessibility
KW - Humans
KW - Inservice Training
KW - Male
KW - Medical
KW - Mental Health
KW - Narcotic Antagonists/administration & dosage/therapeutic use
KW - North America
KW - Opiate Substitution Treatment/methods
KW - Opioid-Related Disorders/drug therapy
KW - Perception
KW - Physicians, Family/psychology/statistics & numerical data
KW - Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data
KW - Primary Health Care
KW - Primary Health Care/statistics & numerical data
KW - Psychiatry
KW - Public Health
KW - Qualitative Research
KW - Time Factors
KW - Trust
AU - J. R. DeFlavio
AU - S. A. Rolin
AU - B. R. Nordstrom
AU - L. A. Kazal Jr
A1 - 
AB - INTRODUCTION: Opioid abuse has reached epidemic levels. Evidence-based treatments such as buprenorphine maintenance therapy (BMT) remain underutilized. Offering BMT in primary care settings has the potential to reduce overall costs of care, decrease medical morbidity associated with opioid dependence, and improve treatment outcomes. However, access to BMT, especially in rural areas, remains limited. This article will present a review of barriers to adoption of BMT among family physicians in a primarily rural area in the USA. METHODS: An anonymous survey of family physicians practicing in Vermont or New Hampshire, two largely rural states, was conducted. The survey included both quantitative and qualitative questions, focused on BMT adoption and physician opinions of opioids. Specific factors assessed included physician factors, physicians' understanding of patient factors, and logistical issues. RESULTS: One-hundred and eight family physicians completed the survey. Approximately 10% were buprenorphine prescribers. More than 80% of family physicians felt they regularly saw patients addicted to opiates. The majority (70%) felt that they, as family physicians, bore responsibility for treating opiate addiction. Potential logistical barriers to buprenorphine adoption included inadequately trained staff (88%), insufficient time (80%), inadequate office space (49%), and cumbersome regulations (37%). Common themes addressed in open-ended questions included lack of knowledge, time, or interest; mistrust of people with addiction or buprenorphine; and difficult patient population. CONCLUSIONS: This study aims to quantify perceived barriers to treatment and provide insight expanding the community of family physicians offering BMT. The results suggest family physicians are excellent candidates to provide BMT, as most report regularly seeing opioid-addicted patients and believe that treating opioid addiction is their responsibility. Significant barriers remain, including inadequate staff training, lack of access to addiction experts, and perceived efficacy of BMT. Addressing these barriers may lower resistance to buprenorphine adoption and increase access to BMT in rural areas.
BT - Rural and remote health
C5 - Opioids & Substance Use; Education & Workforce; Healthcare Disparities
CY - Australia
JF - Rural and remote health
N2 - INTRODUCTION: Opioid abuse has reached epidemic levels. Evidence-based treatments such as buprenorphine maintenance therapy (BMT) remain underutilized. Offering BMT in primary care settings has the potential to reduce overall costs of care, decrease medical morbidity associated with opioid dependence, and improve treatment outcomes. However, access to BMT, especially in rural areas, remains limited. This article will present a review of barriers to adoption of BMT among family physicians in a primarily rural area in the USA. METHODS: An anonymous survey of family physicians practicing in Vermont or New Hampshire, two largely rural states, was conducted. The survey included both quantitative and qualitative questions, focused on BMT adoption and physician opinions of opioids. Specific factors assessed included physician factors, physicians' understanding of patient factors, and logistical issues. RESULTS: One-hundred and eight family physicians completed the survey. Approximately 10% were buprenorphine prescribers. More than 80% of family physicians felt they regularly saw patients addicted to opiates. The majority (70%) felt that they, as family physicians, bore responsibility for treating opiate addiction. Potential logistical barriers to buprenorphine adoption included inadequately trained staff (88%), insufficient time (80%), inadequate office space (49%), and cumbersome regulations (37%). Common themes addressed in open-ended questions included lack of knowledge, time, or interest; mistrust of people with addiction or buprenorphine; and difficult patient population. CONCLUSIONS: This study aims to quantify perceived barriers to treatment and provide insight expanding the community of family physicians offering BMT. The results suggest family physicians are excellent candidates to provide BMT, as most report regularly seeing opioid-addicted patients and believe that treating opioid addiction is their responsibility. Significant barriers remain, including inadequate staff training, lack of access to addiction experts, and perceived efficacy of BMT. Addressing these barriers may lower resistance to buprenorphine adoption and increase access to BMT in rural areas.
PP - Australia
PY - 2015
SN - 1445-6354; 1445-6354
SP - 3019
T1 - Analysis of barriers to adoption of buprenorphine maintenance therapy by family physicians
T2 - Rural and remote health
TI - Analysis of barriers to adoption of buprenorphine maintenance therapy by family physicians
U1 - Opioids & Substance Use; Education & Workforce; Healthcare Disparities
U2 - 25651434
VL - 15
VO - 1445-6354; 1445-6354
Y1 - 2015
ER -