ABSTRACT
Background
Perceptions and attitudes related to co-occurring intellectual disability and substance use disorder (SUD) may differ among professionals across different care settings. This study explores these potential differences between intellectual disability care and addiction care.
Method
In a cross-sectional comparative study, perceptions and attitudes among health care professionals working in both systems were collected through the Illness Perception Questionnaire and Medical Condition Regards Scale.
Results
Addiction care professionals showed greater understanding of SUD and more positive attitudes towards patients with co-occurring conditions. In contrast, intellectual disability care professionals scored higher in emotional response. Demoralisation correlated negatively, and illness coherence and personal control positively with attitudes towards these patients.
Conclusions
These findings suggest more negative attitudes towards patients with an intellectual disability and co-occurring SUD among professionals in intellectual disability care compared to addiction care, and argue for efforts to further improve attitudes in order to enhance care for these patients.