title: Evaluation of a Training to Reduce Provider Bias Toward Pregnant Patients With Substance Abuse.
abstract: The objective of this article is not to present a scientific or systematic study, but to provide an initial framework for designing a training workshop to enhance health practitioners' (nurses, social workers, physicians, etc.) knowledge regarding substance abuse treatment and to decrease their bias toward substance-abusing women, particularly pregnant women in rural communities. We incorporated the 4 Transdisciplinary Foundations from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Competencies Model, with specific competencies targeted that related to provider bias. After the conference, 52 of the 70 participants completed a questionnaire to self-assess knowledge level and confidence in skill related to substance abuse management. Participant mean scores were statistically significantly higher following the conference than 1 week prior ( p < .001) in the area of "gender difference with substance abuse," moving from an average of 2.6 to 4.5 on a 5-point Likert scale. Our conference was successful in increasing attendees' knowledge about gender difference and substance abuse among pregnant patients.
authors.affiliation: CAMC Health Education and Research Institute, Charleston, West Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Dara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seybold
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, West Virginia University-Charleston, Charleston, West Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Byron
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Calhoun
authors.affiliation: CAMC Women and Children's Hospital, Charleston, West Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.affiliation: CAMC Family Resource Center, Charleston, West Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Tammi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: CAMC Family Resource Center, Charleston, West Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.affiliation: CAMC Women and Children's Hospital, Charleston, West Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Angie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casto
keywords: gender difference; health practitioners; pregnancy; provider attitudes; rural health care; substance abuse; training