Abstract
The substance use epidemic is the latest wave in a series of global substance use related public health crises (Mania et al., 2021; Jemberie et al., 2020). A fundamental cause of health inequities, stigma impacts the development of substance use disorder (SUD), undermines treatment efforts, and drives disparities within these crises (Earnshaw, 2020; Nyblade et al., 2019; Carrara et al., 2021). Stigma awareness education is an essential component to prepare nurses and healthcare providers who care for people with SUD. However, the types and quality of stigma awareness educational programs is not well documented in the literature. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify educational programs used to train individuals about SUD related stigma. The research team was two academic nurses and one librarian. The librarian conducted a comprehensive search using CINAHL, PubMed, PsychINFO, and Web of Science. Duplicate articles were removed. Articles (n=1099) were uploaded to JBI SUMARI. Two rounds of reviews were completed by each of the researchers: Title and abstract review (n=1099) and full text review (n=450). Results yielded 86 articles for extraction. The researchers created an extraction table, a preliminary code book was developed. Content analysis was conducted by two researchers independently. The researchers met and discussed analysis until consensus was reached. Findings were organized into the following categories related to educational program: quality (content development, instrument development and testing, program evaluation); scope; and intended audience. Currently there is no one program that meets all the criteria for an evidence-based sustainable program focused on stigma awareness for healthcare professionals including nursing. These findings can inform evidence-based program development and evaluation. Stigma awareness education could be standardized and broadly disseminated to reach nurses, healthcare professionals and the community at large. This type of education could positively impact people with SUD. Understanding the current literature on stigma awareness education can be a step to bridging the gap to promote evidence-based educational programs. Stigma awareness education could be standardized and broadly disseminated to reach nurses, healthcare professionals and the community. Education can inform future practice that promote open, accessible, and equitable care, which can enhance participation in treatment and recovery.
Notes
References:
Carrara, B. S., Fernandes, R. H. H., Bobbili, S. J., & Ventura, C. A. A. (2021). Health care providers and people with mental illness: An integrative review on anti-stigma interventions. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 67(7), 840-853.
Earnshaw, V. A. (2020). Stigma and substance use disorders: A clinical, research, and advocacy agenda. American Psychologist, 75(9), 1300–1311. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000744
Jemberie, W. B., Stewart Williams, J., Eriksson, M., Grönlund, A. S., Ng, N., Blom Nilsson, M., ... & Lundgren, L. M. (2020). Substance use disorders and COVID-19: multi-faceted problems which require multi-pronged solutions. Frontiers in psychiatry, 11, 714.
Maina, G., Ogenchuk, M., Phaneuf, T. et al. “I can’t live like that”: the experience of caregiver stress of caring for a relative with substance use disorder. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 16, 11 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-021-00344-3
Nyblade, L., Stockton, M.A., Giger, K. et al. Stigma in health facilities: why it matters and how we can change it. BMC Med 17, 25 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-019-1256-2
Sigma Membership
Beta Sigma
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Public/community Health, Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Ethics, Substance Use Disorder, SUD
Recommended Citation
Adam, Marianne; Kitt-Lewis, Erin; and Phillips, Kat, "Mapping Key Components of Substance Use Disorder Stigma Awareness Education: A Scoping Review" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 31.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/31
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Mapping Key Components of Substance Use Disorder Stigma Awareness Education: A Scoping Review
Seattle, Washington, USA
The substance use epidemic is the latest wave in a series of global substance use related public health crises (Mania et al., 2021; Jemberie et al., 2020). A fundamental cause of health inequities, stigma impacts the development of substance use disorder (SUD), undermines treatment efforts, and drives disparities within these crises (Earnshaw, 2020; Nyblade et al., 2019; Carrara et al., 2021). Stigma awareness education is an essential component to prepare nurses and healthcare providers who care for people with SUD. However, the types and quality of stigma awareness educational programs is not well documented in the literature. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify educational programs used to train individuals about SUD related stigma. The research team was two academic nurses and one librarian. The librarian conducted a comprehensive search using CINAHL, PubMed, PsychINFO, and Web of Science. Duplicate articles were removed. Articles (n=1099) were uploaded to JBI SUMARI. Two rounds of reviews were completed by each of the researchers: Title and abstract review (n=1099) and full text review (n=450). Results yielded 86 articles for extraction. The researchers created an extraction table, a preliminary code book was developed. Content analysis was conducted by two researchers independently. The researchers met and discussed analysis until consensus was reached. Findings were organized into the following categories related to educational program: quality (content development, instrument development and testing, program evaluation); scope; and intended audience. Currently there is no one program that meets all the criteria for an evidence-based sustainable program focused on stigma awareness for healthcare professionals including nursing. These findings can inform evidence-based program development and evaluation. Stigma awareness education could be standardized and broadly disseminated to reach nurses, healthcare professionals and the community at large. This type of education could positively impact people with SUD. Understanding the current literature on stigma awareness education can be a step to bridging the gap to promote evidence-based educational programs. Stigma awareness education could be standardized and broadly disseminated to reach nurses, healthcare professionals and the community. Education can inform future practice that promote open, accessible, and equitable care, which can enhance participation in treatment and recovery.
Description
The purpose of this presentation is to describe a scoping review conducted to identify educational programs being used to train individuals about stigma towards people with substance use disorder. Findings can inform evidence-based program development and evaluation of stigma awareness for healthcare professionals including nursing.