Application of the Theoretical Domains Framework on Substance Use Services: A Scoping Review

This presentation will be featured at Indonesia 2025, on the 18.09.2025.

Authors: 

Ma Veronica Felipe - Texas Tech University

Dr. Antover Tuliao - Texas Tech University

Abstract:

Access to evidence-based practices (EBP) in substance use prevention and treatment programs remains a challenge despite systematic efforts toward dissemination. The delay in the integration of EBP results in costly and substandard quality of care. A key to promoting its uptake is to understand the determinants that influence the implementation of addiction programs.

This study aimed to identify multiple levels of barriers and facilitators through the lens of the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). The comprehensive scope of TDF aligns with a multidisciplinary approach that accounts for individual, environmental, and social influences on behaviors.

A scoping review was conducted to identify the trends and gaps in the implementation of EBP for addiction studies. Sixteen studies were included in this review, 14 (88%) of which are treatment applications primarily on smoking cessation conducted either in the United Kingdom (n = 6, 38%) or Australia (n = 5, 31%).

The most cited barriers and facilitators are knowledge, environmental context and resources, social influences, and social and professional identity. While beliefs about consequences and skills are simultaneously identified as both barriers and facilitators, behavioral regulation is only noted as a barrier, and motivation as a facilitator. Certain domains such as knowledge, skills, social and professional identity, and beliefs on capabilities center on intrapersonal responses, while optimism, and memory, attention, and decision process are highly influenced by the perception of clients and institutions.

These findings provide fundamental information on the determinants of addiction services. It also highlighted the need to increase diversity in research settings and go beyond primary healthcare and high-income countries to account for health-related practices in marginalized settings.