First-Year Medical Students’ Perceptions of Stigma Toward People With Opioid Use Disorder Before and After an Educational Intervention

Abstract

Background: Stigma among medical trainees toward people with opioid use disorder (OUD) compounds the problems associated with opioid addiction. People with OUD who experience overt and implicit stigma from healthcare providers are less likely to seek and receive treatment, further restricting their access to already limited resources. The objective of our study was to assess an educational strategy to mitigate stigma toward people with OUD among first-year medical students. Methods: This study assessed perceptions of stigma toward people with OUD among first-year medical students using an adaptation of a brief, validated opioid stigma scale before and after an educational intervention. The intervention consisted primarily of a recorded panel in which people with a history of OUD shared their experiences with stigma followed by small group discussions. Results: After the educational intervention, students were more likely to respond that (1) they believed most people held negative beliefs about people with OUD and (2) they personally disagreed with negative statements about people with OUD. Conclusions: Educational interventions addressing stigma toward people with OUD are potentially effective and should be integrated into medical curricula. Such interventions are a crucial part of the effort to improve the medical care of people with OUD.