Abstract
Background and Objectives
Substance use disorders (SUD) among healthcare professionals threaten both patient safety and workforce stability. Professional health programs (PHPs) aim to support recovery and safe practice reentry, yet outcomes for non-physician professionals remain underexplored. This study assessed return to use and professional outcomes among healthcare professionals monitored through the Utah Professionals Health Program (UPHP), a cohort predominantly composed of non-physician participants.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study used data from 183 UPHP participants with SUD (60.7% nurses) enrolled between 2013 and 2024. The primary outcome was return to use, defined by positive toxicology results or self-report. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of return to use.
Results
Return to use occurred in 48.6% of participants, with the highest incidence (33.9%) in year one. By year five, 81.4% had completed monitoring, and 55.9% were working full-time in healthcare. In adjusted models, age (OR = 0.93 per year, p = .039), duration of SUD before UPHP enrollment (OR = 1.14 per year, p = .004), and injury history (OR = 0.23, p = .017) were significantly associated with return to use.
Discussion and Conclusions
This non-physician dominant cohort highlights need for early recovery support and profession-specific care. Return to use was most frequent in year one, underscoring the need for intensive early-phase monitoring. Tailored support for injury-related substance use, along with peer support and employment services may improve outcomes.
Scientific Significance
Findings provide novel insight into recovery outcomes for non-physician healthcare professionals in a PHP, a group underrepresented in addiction research.