Work

Teaching the next generation of physicians: Evaluating addiction medicine curriculum interventions across two U.S. Medical schools

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background Over 48 million Americans were diagnosed with a substance use disorder in 2023. However, only 4.5% of individuals with addiction received treatment. To effectively treat people with substance use disorders, comprehensive addiction medicine education should be required in all medical schools.Objectives This study evaluated the effectiveness of an addiction medicine curriculum intervention across two universities.Methods Students at Michigan State University (College of Human Medicine and College of Osteopathic Medicine) (MSU) and Keck School of Medicine (KSOM) of University of Southern California (USC), were surveyed before and after taking two- and four- week addiction medicine electives. The ten-question Likert scale survey assessed attitudes toward addiction and addiction treatment. In both MSU AND USC cohorts, pre and post scores were matched for analysis. The paired t-test and sign rank tests were used to compare pre- vs. post-test scores within schools and combined. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was employed to compare pre-post change in scores between universities. Significance was determined at p < 0.05.Results There were 251 respondents. Significant within-group improvements were observed in seven of the ten questions. MSU showed significant change in seven questions, while USC showed significant change in four questions. Between-group comparisons showed that MSU and USC significantly differed on both pretest responses and post-test responses.Conclusions These findings suggest that the addiction medicine curriculum did have an impact at both schools, but the differences need to be further studied.

Source: Journal of Addictive Diseases

DOI: 10.1080/10550887.2025.2597858

Authors: Madison Walsh, Ilana Simon Greenberg, Jo Marie Reilly, Cara Poland

Institutions: Michigan State University, University of Southern California

Language: English

Topic: Innovations in Medical Education

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services