Exploring professional perspectives of Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence Prescribing among Alcohol and other Drugs Nurse Practitioners (AODNPs) in rural and regional Victoria

Introduction:

Despite, Victorian government’s alcohol and other drug (AOD) workforce policy calling for greater recruitment of AOD nurse practitioners (AODNP), frontline organisations in Victoria involved in pharmacotherapy treatments anecdotally report a number of systemic barriers to recruitment and retention. Furthermore, there is scant Australian literature that focuses on the professional experiences of AODNP roles in pharmacotherapy provision that specifically uses a regional/rural lens. This research aims to address this gap by examining the AODNP workforce issues in delivering pharmacotherapy treatments in regional/rural areas of Victoria.

Method/Approach:

The study design included, conducting a scoping review of existing literature on AODNPs in the international, national and state context, open ended surveys and qualitative in-depth interviews with AODNPs working in regional Victoria. The interviews were coded and thematically analysed.

Findings:

The findings of the scoping review suggest a lack of peer reviewed research in Australia and Victoria that captures the role of MATOD-prescribing AODNPs in regional/rural areas. This study contributes to the knowledge base by being the first of its kind research in Victoria that documents the perspectives of MATOD-prescribing AODNPs in regional/rural Victoria. The findings from the qualitative interviews with AODNPs generated three themes education and professional training, system level barriers, and facilitators to increasing AODNP workforce. Majority felt that stigma towards pharmacotherapy clients and lack of state/federal funding at community and hospital level of pharmacotherapy treatments and inadequate financial reimbursement acted as significant barriers to recruitment. Some reported satisfaction with the advocacy and training support provided by regional pharmacotherapy area-based networks.

Discussions and Conclusions:

As a way of conclusion, we suggest, despite systemic barriers, including lack of longer and/or inadequate funding of pharmacotherapy treatments, deep seated stigmatising attitudes carried by professionals across the health system towards pharmacotherapy clients and gaps in accessing regular and timely professional mentoring and training – AODNP’s professional commitment and motivation to serve clients highlights the significant role AODNP’s play in pharmacotherapy provision.

Implications for Practice or Policy:

The AOD policy implications relate to the urgent need to adequately fund AODNP positions on a long-term basis that service increasing demand for pharmacotherapy treatments and increase opportunities for adequate professional mentoring and training of AODNP’s in regional/rural areas will assist with recruitment and retention.

(Abstract presented at APSAD Conference, Adelaide Nov., 12-15 2023)