CASE STUDY
PUBLIC HEALTH FOCUS GROUPS ON PHYSICIAN INFORMATION NEEDS
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) includes NIDA (The National Institute on Drug Abuse). NIDA needed to better understand what resources physicians need in order to help address substance use disorder among their patients. After NIDA’s literature review examined physician reluctance to intervene and the role of stigma in treatment, NIDA needed to hear directly from physicians to understand what training resources would address their unmet needs.
ACTION
Health Market Experts recruited and conducted national focus groups with physicians and NP/PAs, including a mix of providers by geography, practice size, and setting.
RESULT
The focus groups yielded both validating examples about resources that will help, as well as new insights about the barriers providers face when it comes to intervening and helping patients and their families combat substance use disorder. The findings and recommendations provided NIDA and its contractor with actionable approaches to consider and implement.
DOMAIN
Communications, Government, Technical Assistance, Public Health, Substance Use Disorder