Screening and therapeutic recommendations for patients with alcohol use disorder.

ABSTRACT: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the most prevalent substance use disorder worldwide. Early screening can identify patients at risk for developing AUD, creating opportunities for prevention and early intervention. This article encourages the use of AUD screening tools, explores AUD treatments, and aims to equip clinicians with evidence-based strategies to prevent and manage AUD.

Attitudes and Beliefs of Pediatric Residents and Physician Assistant Students Toward Screening Adolescents for Suicide in Primary Care.

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of this study were to: (1) describe attitudes of health professional trainees for conducting routine screening for suicidal ideation with adolescents; (2) identify the relationship between intention to conduct suicide risk assessments and behavioral attitudes, norm referents, and behavioral control; and (3) investigate the relationship between intention to conduct these assessments and self-reported clinic behavior. METHODS: Second-year physician assistant (PA) students and pediatric residents (MD) at 3 universities voluntarily completed an anonymous cross-sectional questionnaire. The questionnaire was guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior and included items about previous experience with suicide. Pearson correlation and multivariable linear regression were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: There were usable and complete data for 105 respondents (n = 105). The sample included PA students (89.52%, n = 94) and pediatric residents (10.48%, n = 11). Trainees were significantly more likely to have higher intention to conduct suicide risk assessments when they reported greater behavioral control (Std. ß = 0.34, p <0.001) and reported suicide being discussed during previous clinic visits as a student/resident (Std. ß = 0.21, p = 0.03), controlling for profession, race, behavioral attitudes, and norm referents. Trainees were significantly more likely to report conducting suicide risk assessments when they had greater behavioral control (Std. ß = 0.27, p = 0.01) and greater intention to conduct these assessments (Std. ß = 0.21, p = 0.03), controlling for profession, race, behavioral attitudes, and norm referents. DISCUSSION: Second-year PA students and pediatric residents support screening adolescents for suicide risk. Training on methods to increase behavioral control may increase rates of screenings.

Health professions students' attitudes and perceptions of interprofessional biases.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine attitudes toward interprofessional, team-based care in first-year health professions students. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire was administered to all first-year health professions students in their first semester at one university using the Interprofessional Attitudes Scale (IPAS). Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to analyze the data. KEY FINDINGS: Results indicated only two significant differences among students in IPAS subdomains: teamwork (χ2  = 13.11, df = 3, P = 0.004) and patient-centredness (χ2  = 40.75, df = 3, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Not all health professions students come into their formal education with the same level of attitudes toward team-based care. Educators should consider this when designing IPE activities.