Online SBIRT Training for On-Campus, Satellite Campus, and Online MSW Students: Pre-Post Perceptions and Practice

Social workers are in an ideal position to address the need for increased access to screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) for substance use disorder. This pre-post study explores the effects of SBIRT education and training among social work students from three campus environments (traditional, online, and satellite). Results demonstrated that participation in online training was related to increased levels of confidence, sense of responsibility, and practice of SBIRT and a decrease in perceived barriers. On-campus students showed the greatest post-training gains in confidence to use SBIRT. Results suggest that SBIRT education and training is beneficial for students from various backgrounds and should be included in social work students' core clinical practice curriculum.