title: Training HIV physicians to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid dependence.
abstract: Few HIV physicians are trained to provide buprenorphine treatment. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to assess the impact of an eight-hour course on the treatment of opioid dependence on HIV physicians' preparedness to prescribe buprenorphine. 113 of 257 trained physicians (44%) provided HIV care. Post-course, the majority of both HIV physicians and non-HIV physicians (66% vs. 67%, P = .8) planned to pursue a registration to prescribe buprenorphine. The most common reason for not planning to do so was lack of experience (9% vs. 15%, P = .19). 52 of the 113 (46%) HIV physicians had concerns about prescribing buprenorphine. 30 of the 52 (58%) indicated that interactions between buprenorphine and HAART was their primary concern. Following training, most physicians feel prepared and plan to obtain a registration to prescribe buprenorphine. HIV physicians' concerns regarding interactions between buprenorphine and HAART need to be addressed in future training efforts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 6520-8025, USA. lynn.sullivan@yale.edu
authors.forename: Lynn E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tetrault
authors.forename: Deepa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bangalore
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fiellin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D004347:Drug Interactions; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009518:New York; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013038:Specialization
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D002047:Buprenorphine