Clinical medical practice and stigma towards patients with substance use disorder in an Italian sample of healthcare workers
Authors
Alice Valdesalici, Diego Saccon, Elena Boatto, Amalia Manzan, Roberto Manera, Alessandro Pani, Valentina Pavani, Giancarlo Zecchinato, Vito Sava, Giovanni Greco, Sally Paganin, Marco Solmi
Abstract
Introduction. People with substance use disorder (SUD) face challenges like stigma and discrimination, impacting their healthcare experiences. Aim. This study aims to: (i) assess physicians’ clinical practices and stigma toward SUD patients among healthcare personnel and (ii) explore the relationship among stigma, psychological well-being, and burnout.
Methods. A survey covering sociodemographic data, physicians’ clinical practices, stigmatizing attitudes, psychological well-being, and burnout was completed by 1,796 employees of the Veneto’s Local Health Units (Italy).
Results. Healthcare professionals reported increased stigma towards SUDs (p-values<0.05). Stigma consistently correlated with variables such as sex, profession, department, and levels of burnout (p-values<0.05). Notably, high burnout levels were associated with increased stigma. Staff in addiction departments displayed lower stigma levels compared to other departments. No significant differences were found in physicians’
clinical practices.
Conclusions. Targeted training for healthcare professionals is crucial to reduce stigma, enhance attitudes toward SUDs, and broaden overall knowledge of the condition.
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