Publication:

Knowledge, attitude and practices of medical residents towards patients with substance use disorder in Jammu and Kashmir

Background Substance use disorder (SUD) has emerged as a major public health concern in Jammu and Kashmir. With increasing clinical encounters, medical residents play a vital role in early recognition and management of SUDs.

Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in January 2021 among medical residents across tertiary care hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir. The pretested questionnaire comprised four sections: sociodemographic profile, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to SUD. Data were collected over three days using social media platforms and analysed using Microsoft Excel 2016.

Results A total of 162 residents participated, with 65.4% aged 20-30 years and 56.2% females. Most (86.4%) were from clinical specialties. While 92.6% agreed that addiction is a mental illness, only 50.6% were aware of opioid substitution therapy (OST). Notably, 51.8% admitted to avoiding patients with SUD, and 75% reported needing psychiatric assistance for such cases. While 69.1% routinely assessed toxicology history, 58.4% could interpret drug screen results. Most (89.5%) felt the need for further training in managing SUDs.

Conclusions Medical residents demonstrated good baseline knowledge and awareness of SUDs. However, gaps in training, especially in OST and emergency management, highlight the need for targeted educational interventions.