Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment: public health training for primary care.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to elucidate changes in attitudes, experiences, readiness, and confidence levels of medical residents to perform screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) and factors that moderate these changes.


METHODS
A cohort of 121 medical residents received an educational intervention. Self-reported experience, readiness, attitude, and confidence toward SBIRT-related skills were measured at baseline and at follow-up. Analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of medical specialization.


RESULTS
The intervention significantly increased experience (P<.001), attitude (P<.05), readiness (P<.001), and confidence (P<.001). Residents were more likely to report that their involvement influenced patients' substance use. However, experience applying SBIRT skills varied by country of birth, specialty, and baseline scores.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggested that SBIRT training was an effective educational tool that increased residents' sense of responsibility. However, application of skills might differ by specialization and other variables. Future studies are needed to explore and evaluate SBIRT knowledge obtained, within the context of cultural awareness and clinical skills.
Howard University College of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Washington, DC 20059, USA. vjmarshall@howard.edu
Vanessa J
VJ
Marshall
TyWanda L
TL
McLaurin-Jones
Nnenna
N
Kalu
John
J
Kwagyan
Denise M
DM
Scott
Gloria
G
Cain
Wendy
W
Greene
Babafemi
B
Adenuga
Robert E
RE
Taylor
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires