Date of Submission
2024
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Department
Psychology
Department Chair
Stephanie Felgoise, Phd, ABPP
First Advisor
Elizabeth Gosch, Ph.D., ABPP
Second Advisor
Stephen Poteau, Ph.D.
Third Advisor
Michelle Lent, Ph.D.
Abstract
The opioid epidemic is a public health crisis, with opioid use frequently beginning during adolescence and young adulthood. Opioid-related overdoses have continued to increase among adolescents and young adults. Despite the efficacy of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in treating opioid use disorder (OUD), they remain underutilized. A critical step to addressing this issue is identifying the barriers that prevent physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants from prescribing MOUD. This study investigates healthcare providers' willingness to prescribe buprenorphine to adolescents and young adults with OUD. Participants included physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who currently treat adolescents and young adults between 16 to 24 years of age. It was hypothesized that endorsements of opioid-related stigmatizing attitudes, attitudes toward buprenorphine, actual knowledge about buprenorphine, and level of exposure to buprenorphine training would significantly predict healthcare providers' willingness to prescribe buprenorphine to adolescents and young adults. Further, it was predicted that group differences would emerge between physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants regarding their actual knowledge of buprenorphine. Findings were mixed and demonstrated two out of the four variables that were statistically significant in healthcare providers' willingness to prescribe, as well as group differences among healthcare provider type of actual knowledge of buprenorphine. The findings of this study may be used to highlight the need to identify and implement the most effective treatment for adolescents and young adults with OUD, as well as inform research to further foster support for MOUD.
Recommended Citation
Fusco, Nicole M., "Healthcare Providers’ Willingness to Prescribe Buprenorphine to Adolescents and Young Adults with Opioid Use Disorder" (2024). PCOM Psychology Dissertations. 653.
https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/psychology_dissertations/653