Preceptors’ Preparedness to Teach About Substance and Opioid Use Disorder: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Study Aim: Little is known about preceptors’ comfort and readiness to teach clinical students about the care of patients with substance and opioid use disorder (SUD/OUD). This study explores preceptors’ views about caring for such patients, and their preparedness to teach about SUD/OUD management, to improve graduate competencies.Methods: Particiants were recruited by convenience and snowball sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with physician, physician assistant and nurse practitioner preceptors who taught medical and physician assistant students. Interviews were conducted via Zoom® videoconferencing. Transcripts were generated and independently analyzed for themes by 4 experienced coders using constant comparison and a grounded theory approach.Results: Fifteen interviews were conducted to theme saturation. We identified 3 major themes and 10 subthemes supported by exemplar quotes. The major themes were: education about SUD/OUD in primary care (subthemes include role modeling positive behaviors, negative patient bias as a barrier and need for longitudinal curriculum), treatment of SUD/OUD in primary care (need for systemic support and care continuity), and medication-assisted therapy (MAT) training as a tool for teaching (preceptors’ own training, and need for clinical students to be trained). Conclusions: Data analysis enabled the construction of a conceptual framework reflecting a continuum of preceptor comfort and preparedness to teach about SUD/OUD, associated with various barriers and motivators. This framework can guide future strategies to address facilitators and obstacles, in order to advance and promote preceptor preparedness to teach students about the care and management of patients with SUD/OUD.