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Curriculum survey of substance abuse teaching

Publication ,  Journal Article
Westman, EC; Stein, R; Puckett, A
Published in: Journal of Investigative Medicine
January 1, 1996

Substance abuse is the leading cause of preventable death in our society. In this project we surveyed the faculty at one university medical school to describe the substance abuse curriculum. We employed a two-stage mail survey: of 1340 surveys mailed, 754 (56%) were returned, and 231 faculty reported addressing substance abuse in their teaching of medical students. A 39 item second survey was sent to the 231 faculty who teach substance abuse, and 143 (62%) surveys were returned. Substance abuse teaching occurred during all four years of medical school across many clinical departments. Alcohol was discussed most frequently (by 82% of respondants), followed by cocaine (54%), nicotine (48%), and opiates (47%) (p<.001). Alcohol was addressed by 85% of psychiatrists, 55% of family practioners, 45% of internists, 45% of surgeons, and 35% of pediatricians. Nicotine was addressed by 70% of familiy practitioners, 55% of surgeons, 45% of psychiatrists, 40% of internists, 25% of pediatricians. Cocaine was addressed by 90% of surgeons, 70% of psychiatrists, 60% of pediatricians, 50% of internists, and 35% of family practitioners. The content of substance abuse teaching most frequently included the medical complications of substances of abuse, followed by substance abuse behaviors, diagnosis, assessment, treatment ; only 25% of respondants addressed prevention of substance abuse. We surveyed the medical faculty at one university medical center and found substance abuse teaching occurring in many departments. Academic internists should heighten their awareness of substance abuse in their teaching of medical students.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of Investigative Medicine

ISSN

1708-8267

Publication Date

January 1, 1996

Volume

44

Issue

1

Related Subject Headings

  • General Clinical Medicine
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Westman, E. C., Stein, R., & Puckett, A. (1996). Curriculum survey of substance abuse teaching. Journal of Investigative Medicine, 44(1).
Westman, E. C., R. Stein, and A. Puckett. “Curriculum survey of substance abuse teaching.” Journal of Investigative Medicine 44, no. 1 (January 1, 1996).
Westman EC, Stein R, Puckett A. Curriculum survey of substance abuse teaching. Journal of Investigative Medicine. 1996 Jan 1;44(1).
Westman, E. C., et al. “Curriculum survey of substance abuse teaching.” Journal of Investigative Medicine, vol. 44, no. 1, Jan. 1996.
Westman EC, Stein R, Puckett A. Curriculum survey of substance abuse teaching. Journal of Investigative Medicine. 1996 Jan 1;44(1).

Published In

Journal of Investigative Medicine

ISSN

1708-8267

Publication Date

January 1, 1996

Volume

44

Issue

1

Related Subject Headings

  • General Clinical Medicine
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences