Healthcare Professionals' Experiences, Views and Responses toward People who use New Psychoactive Substances.

Background New psychoactive substances (NPS) can cause severe physical and mental health harms, including death. Substance misuse and mental health service healthcare professionals (Hcps) face many challenges in the identification of NPS types, related symptomatology and responding to people who use NPS (PWUNPS). To date, a lack of research exists on how Hcps view, experience and behave in clinical healthcare services (HCSs) in response to PWUNPS who present for clinical treatment. Methodology This research explores the experience, views, and responses of Hcps towards PWUNPS across 5 statutory, non-statutory and private HCSs in the South region of the United Kingdom. The data was collected over a period in two phases as per sequential explanatory design. Ninety-two Hcps were surveyed, and 14 Hcps were interviewed. The survey questions were developed utilising the theory of reasoned action (ToRA) and a pilot review of non-statutory and statutory private HCSs was conducted. Findings Findings indicated that Hcps experienced organisational issues, and this impacted the treatment for PWUNPS. These issues included a lack of training surrounding NPS, a lack of knowledge on the different NPS types, harm minimisation (HM) strategies and lack of assessment procedures and policy. The Hcps requested further trainings surrounding stigma associated with people who engage in chemsex (PWEICS), the homelessness, people with mental health problems and assessment of PWUNPS. Conclusions The thesis concludes that Hcps need more training, job role opportunities and more funding in HCSs to manage PWUNPS. This in turn, motivates Hcps intentions to treat PWUNPS. This research demonstrates the potential of implementing newer assessment, policy, trainings, HM approaches to improve the organisational values and well-being of both Hcps and disadvantaged and marginalised groups of people.