A model to understand antecedents of nursing attitudes and perceptions influencing outcomes of patients with SUD

Introduction: Substance use disorder (SUD) is a persistent and long-standing public health issue in the United States. While SUD is medically considered a chronic illness, it is also one that is viewed as self-inflicted, thereby resulting in judgmental attitudes and stigmatization from care providers, specifically from nurses.

Design: In 2020, the authors completed an analytical cross-sectional study that included open-ended questions to examine nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward caring for patients with SUD across practice settings.

Methods: A conceptual model was constructed by examining original study data and published literature on SUD, re-analyzing themes, determining constructs and variables, then coming to a consensus on critical aspects of the model.

Conclusion: The resulting conceptual model highlights antecedents of nursing behaviors that directly affect patient care outcomes, providing a roadmap to improving patient outcomes.

Clinical relevance: Understanding antecedents that affect nurses' attitudes and perceptions of patients with SUD highlights changes that can influence patient outcomes.