A Systematic Review of Knowledge and Attitude of Nurses Towards Substance Use or Users

Substance use disorders (SUDs) pose substantial challenges to society, creating widespread negative effects. Given their frequent and direct contact with patients, nurses hold a vital position in managing and addressing these disorders. This systematic review aimed to examine nurses’ understanding of substance use and their perceptions of individuals affected by these conditions.

This systematic review involved a comprehensive search of online databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, utilizing relevant keywords up to July 9, 2021. Only studies published in English and aligned with the review’s objectives were considered. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the AXIS tool.

A total of 3273 nurses participated across 12 studies. The results indicated that nurses’ knowledge about substance use was moderate, and their attitudes toward substance users were generally positive. Knowledge-related factors included variables such as age, gender, and work experience. Similarly, age, gender, ethnicity, education level, job position, work experience, participation in workshops on substance use, interest in patient care, hours spent on substance use courses during education, and continuing education hours related to substance use were identified as potential factors influencing attitudes.

Therefore, holding workshops and improving guidelines for patient care with SUDs can enhance nurses’ knowledge and attitudes and, ultimately, the quality of nursing care.