Primary Care Training and Education in Addiction Medicine Fellowship: expanding the addiction medicine workforce
摘要
Primary care providers (PCPs) are well-suited to identify candidates for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and to provide patients with necessary longitudinal services and support. However, training for PCPs on how to diagnose and treat SUD is often lacking. The Primary Care Training and Education in Addiction Medicine (PC-TEAM) program is a one-year in-person and virtual hybrid program that provides more than 50 h of training and focuses on SUD-specific content.
MethodsThis article describes the PC-TEAM training program and presents baseline and post-fellowship data on enrolled fellows (n = 88) to evaluate program effectiveness including changes in participant attitudes, knowledge, and comfort level in treating substance use in the primary care setting. Area Deprivation Index (ADI) scores were calculated by practice location of fellows to determine disadvantage across census tract groups.
ResultsLarge effect sizes in fellows’ comfort levels were observed in caring for patients with SUDs and employing motivational interviewing for SUD (Cohen’s
TNT Fellows experienced an increased overall knowledge and level of comfort in delivering treatment to individuals with SUDs. Fellows typically worked in underserved areas serving vulnerable populations. The PC-TEAM training program provides the opportunity to further develop skills related to evidence-based screening, assessment, and treatment of SUDs.