The determinants of nurses' therapeutic attitude to patients who use illicit drugs and implications for workforce development.

摘要: Aim.  To examine the determinants of generalist nurses’ therapeutic attitude to patients who use illicit drugs, and model workforce development initiatives. Background.  Individuals drugs rely heavily on healthcare in emergency departments inpatient hospital wards. Little is known about provide care, therefore limiting our understanding important issues for development. Design.  The study was a cross-sectional survey registrants Australian Capital Territory Nurses Registration Roll 2002 (N = 3241, 50% response rate). associations between variables were examined by multi-variable linear regression analysis. Method.  Nurses’ assessed using modified version Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire. Personal characteristics, attitudes professional practice such as drug alcohol education, experience with patient group role support mix standardised new questions. Results.  Professional explained 53% variation attitude, most being support. Although negative had statistically significant association it added less than 1% explained. characteristics showed no association. Conclusions.  Generalist nurses struggle care this group. Role found be strongest driver workplace education only useful combination high support. Relevance clinical practice.  caring complex demanding. Nursing must focus increasing support, terms appropriately skilled staff readily available consultation advice. Support nurses, form evidence-based standards appropriate time allocation, also important.