Assessment of alcohol and psychotropic drug use among old-age psychiatric patients in Norway: Experiences of health professionals
Engelsk titel: Assessment of alcohol and psychotropic drug use among old-age psychiatric patients in Norway: Experiences of health professionals
Läs online
Författare:
Johannessen, Aud
;
Engedal, Knut
;
Helvik, Anne-Sofie
Email: aud.johannessen@aldringoghelse.no
Språk: Eng
Antal referenser: 40
Dokumenttyp:
Artikel
UI-nummer: 17110026
Sammanfattning
Background: Increased awareness among health professionals regarding older people’s alcohol
and prescribed psychotropic drug use may be beneficial for reducing their unhealthy consumption
among elderly. Aim: This study explores how health professionals experienced their
participation in a study in which they collected data on alcohol and psychotropic drug use among
patients treated in old-age psychiatry departments and, subsequently, how they experienced
their work day after the study ended. Method: Focus-group and individual interviews with
15 professionals in specialist psychiatric hospitals were performed in 2016. The data were analysed
using content analysis. Results: Two themes emerged from the data: the informants’ “experiences
with participation” and “consequences of participation”. These themes described how the
informants had experienced their participation in the study and whether these experiences
subsequently affected their work routines. The first theme included two subthemes: “approaching
the topic” covered the challenges and “applying assessment scales” described the participants’
opinions about the scales. Two subthemes were included in the second theme: “increasing
knowledge”, which covered their reflections on new knowledge; and “influencing work routines”,
which described their new approach to the topic. Conclusion: Study participation positively
affected the informants’ work routines regarding alcohol and psychotropic drug use. The results of
this study may contribute to a better understanding, development, and organization of services for
people with increased substance use and thus may more holistically promote the health of older
people.