Predicting substance-abuse treatment providers' communication with clients about medication assisted treatment: A test of the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior

• Published in: Journal of substance abuse treatment Vol. 47; no. 5; pp. 307 - 313
• Main Authors: Roberto, Anthony J., Ph.D, Shafer, Michael S., Ph.D, Marmo, Jennifer, Ph.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2014; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Attitude of Health Personnel; Attitude surveys; Cognition & reasoning; Communication; Female; Health Behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Intention; Male; Medical personnel; Medicated assisted treatment (MAT); Middle Aged; Models, Psychological; Patient care planning; Professional-Patient Relations; Psychiatry; Psychological Theory; Substance abuse treatment; Substance-abuse treatment providers; Substance-Related Disorders - drug therapy; Theory of planned behavior; Theory of reasoned action; Substance-abuse treatment providers; Medicated assisted treatment (MAT); Theory of reasoned action; Theory of planned behavior
• ISSN: 0740-5472; 1873-6483
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2014.06.002

Abstract The purpose of this investigation is to determine if the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and theory of planned behavior (TPB) can retrospectively predict whether substance-abuse treatment providers encourage their clients to use medicated-assisted treatment (MAT) as part of their treatment plan. Two-hundred and ten substance-abuse treatment providers completed a survey measuring attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intentions, and behavior. Results indicate that substance-abuse treatment providers have very positive attitudes, neutral subjective norms, somewhat positive perceived behavioral control, somewhat positive intentions toward recommending MAT as part of their clients' treatment plan, and were somewhat likely to engage in the actual behavior. Further, the data fit both the TRA and TPB, but with the TPB model having better fit and predictive power for this target audience and behavior. The theoretical and practical implications for the developing messages for substance-abuse treatment providers and other health-care professionals who provide treatment to patients with substance use disorders are discussed.