Staff Attitudes Toward Patients with Substance Use Disorders in General Hospitals in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria

Negative staff attitudes toward patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) are a recognized barrier to quality care, often resulting in delayed treatment, inadequate assessment, and poor therapeutic relationships. This study examines attitudes of healthcare staff toward patients with SUDs in general hospitals in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. A cross-sectional design will recruit 180 doctors, nurses, and pharmacists from four general hospitals in Ilorin, Offa, and Patigi through proportional stratified sampling. The Drug and Drug Problems Perceptions Questionnaire (DDPPQ) will assess attitudes across dimensions of job satisfaction, role adequacy, and role legitimacy in managing SUDs. Sociodemographic variables including professional cadre, training in addiction medicine, and personal or family history of substance use will be analyzed. Multiple regression will identify predictors of negative attitudes. Literature from Nigerian general hospitals indicates widespread stigmatizing attitudes toward persons with addiction, linked to moral interpretations of substance use and inadequate addiction medicine training. Findings will guide continuing professional development programs in Kwara State and contribute to national training standards for managing SUDs in general health settings. Keywords: staff attitudes, substance use disorders, general hospital, Kwara State, stigma