BARRIERS TO PHYSICIAN IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEM ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE: RESULTS OF STATEWIDE FOCUS GROUPS

Substance abuse is related to many other health problems, thus making the topic of great public health significance. The scope of this study is the results of focus groups conducted with physicians across the state of Pennsylvania; specifically Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. The purpose was to ascertain the barriers to identifying problem alcohol and drug use in patients by practicing physicians. Physicians statewide acknowledged key barriers to screening; time, access to treatment and financial reasons, both patient financial issues or problems and reimbursement from insurers or commercial payers. Additional barriers that were identified as a result of the focus groups included stigmatizing attitude toward substance use, physicians' lack of self-efficacy in managing substance use disorders, and lack of knowledge in this area, among others. The study discusses the results of the focus groups and explores the education that could be offered to physicians in order to increase their knowledge in the area of screening and the identification of problem drug or alcohol use