Practice Problem/PICOT The practice problem is to improve the identification, treatment, and management of substance abuse in Florida’s population. PICOT asks: What is the effect of an implementation of a short intervention program to screen and treat substance abuse in adults aged 18-65 compared with the current standard care on the enrollment rates for addiction treatment (O) after six months?
Evidence Synthesis to Address the Practice Problem: Literature suggests that brief interventions and screening programs can identify people with substance abuse problems, and then encourage them to get treatment. The evidence also shows that short interventions like motivational interviewing can be used to help people reduce their drug use and increase their chance of long-term rehabilitation. Studies have shown, however, that stigma and lack of treatment access can also hinder the enrollment rate in treatment.
Appraisal of the Evidence to Address Selected Problem: Based on the evidence synthesis, implementing a screening and brief intervention program for substance abuse in Florida can be an effective strategy for improving the identification and management of addiction in the state’s population. These programs have been shown to increase long-term recovery rates as well as treatment enrollment. It is important, however, to eliminate the barriers that prevent people from receiving the necessary care. These include stigma and a lack of treatment.
Translation Pathway: A collaborative approach is needed between healthcare professionals, community organizations and policymakers to turn the research into reality. First, it is essential to develop a screening and brief intervention program that is tailored to the needs of Florida’s population. The program must include standardized screening techniques, short interventions using motivational interviewing, and referrals to treatment. Working with community groups to reduce social and economic costs and to address barriers such as stigma and lack of treatment access, this program will also help to overcome the obstacles to addiction treatment. Finally, the policymakers must support this program through funding, policies to support addiction treatment and increased access. Florida’s collaborative approach can help improve identification, treatment and management of drug abuse. This will ultimately lead to improved patient outcomes, as well as reducing addiction burden on healthcare systems and the society.
The Research Article Summary According to an article in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment published by the American Academy of Nursing, nurse led brief interventions can improve identification and treatment of substance abuse among primary care patients. According to the study, patients who were given a short intervention by a nurse are more likely than others not receiving an intervention to seek treatment and reduce substance abuse. According to the authors, nurse-led intervention can be an effective and cost-effective solution for the increasing problem of substance use in the United States.