Professional stigma towards clients with methamphetamine use disorder – a qualitative study
ABSTRACTBackground: Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) is associated with poor health outcomes. Pharmacists play a role in delivery of substance use treatment, with several studies having examined their attitudes to people with opioid use disorder, but little is known about their attitude towards pe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20523211.2024.2306869 |
| _version_ | 1797272034423603200 |
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| author | Ali Makki Carolyn Day Betty B. Chaar |
| author_facet | Ali Makki Carolyn Day Betty B. Chaar |
| author_sort | Ali Makki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACTBackground: Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) is associated with poor health outcomes. Pharmacists play a role in delivery of substance use treatment, with several studies having examined their attitudes to people with opioid use disorder, but little is known about their attitude towards people with MUD. This study aimed to explore pharmacists’ perspectives on the provision of services to clients with MUD.Methods: A convenience sampling strategy was used to recruit community pharmacists across Sydney, Australia. Semi structured interviews examined views and ideas of pharmacists surrounding the treatment and management of MUD, followed by coding of transcribed interview data by all members of the research team.Results: Nineteen pharmacists completed the interviews. The main theme identified was stigma held by healthcare professionals. The almost unanimous perception amongst pharmacists was fear and apprehension towards people with MUD, including underlying assumptions of criminality, misinformation regarding people with MUD, and lack of education and knowledge surrounding MUD.Conclusion: A substantial amount of stigma towards people with MUD was found in this study. Negative attitudes by healthcare professionals can perpetuate healthcare disparities and impede the accessibility of future treatment programs for people with MUD. Appropriate educational interventions on MUD for pharmacists are needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:19:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-acbb1257c8a649ccb6f4eb87b80b5c97 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2052-3211 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:19:37Z |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-acbb1257c8a649ccb6f4eb87b80b5c972024-03-06T09:34:29ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice2052-32112024-12-0117110.1080/20523211.2024.2306869Professional stigma towards clients with methamphetamine use disorder – a qualitative studyAli Makki0Carolyn Day1Betty B. Chaar2Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney School of Pharmacy, Camperdown, AustraliaFaculty of Medicine and Health Addiction Medicine, Central Clinical School, Camperdown, AustraliaProfessionalism Committee School of Pharmacy FMH, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney School of Pharmacy, Camperdown, AustraliaABSTRACTBackground: Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) is associated with poor health outcomes. Pharmacists play a role in delivery of substance use treatment, with several studies having examined their attitudes to people with opioid use disorder, but little is known about their attitude towards people with MUD. This study aimed to explore pharmacists’ perspectives on the provision of services to clients with MUD.Methods: A convenience sampling strategy was used to recruit community pharmacists across Sydney, Australia. Semi structured interviews examined views and ideas of pharmacists surrounding the treatment and management of MUD, followed by coding of transcribed interview data by all members of the research team.Results: Nineteen pharmacists completed the interviews. The main theme identified was stigma held by healthcare professionals. The almost unanimous perception amongst pharmacists was fear and apprehension towards people with MUD, including underlying assumptions of criminality, misinformation regarding people with MUD, and lack of education and knowledge surrounding MUD.Conclusion: A substantial amount of stigma towards people with MUD was found in this study. Negative attitudes by healthcare professionals can perpetuate healthcare disparities and impede the accessibility of future treatment programs for people with MUD. Appropriate educational interventions on MUD for pharmacists are needed.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20523211.2024.2306869Methamphetamine use disordersubstance use disordersqualitative studiespharmacystigma |
| spellingShingle | Ali Makki Carolyn Day Betty B. Chaar Professional stigma towards clients with methamphetamine use disorder – a qualitative study Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice Methamphetamine use disorder substance use disorders qualitative studies pharmacy stigma |
| title | Professional stigma towards clients with methamphetamine use disorder – a qualitative study |
| title_full | Professional stigma towards clients with methamphetamine use disorder – a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Professional stigma towards clients with methamphetamine use disorder – a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Professional stigma towards clients with methamphetamine use disorder – a qualitative study |
| title_short | Professional stigma towards clients with methamphetamine use disorder – a qualitative study |
| title_sort | professional stigma towards clients with methamphetamine use disorder a qualitative study |
| topic | Methamphetamine use disorder substance use disorders qualitative studies pharmacy stigma |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20523211.2024.2306869 |
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