Assessing substance abuse among health care students and the efficacy of educational interventions

Aims: This study assessed the prevalence of substance use among Iranian patients with nephrologic disease (chronic renal failure) who were admitted in different nephrologic wards at Shiraz general hospitals. Design: Cross-sectional survey using structured interview and also using DSM-IV criteria for substance dependency. Setting: General hospitals in Shiraz city (patients with nephrologic disease admitted in different nephrologic wards). Participants: 64 (32 men and 32 women) patients selected randomly. Findings: Data were gathered by a structured interview from 64 patients admitted in nephrologic wards of general hospitals in 2001. The mean age was 49.39 years (SD = 19.62) ranging from 18 to 80 years. 26 (40.6%) of the subjects (65.6% of the men and 15.6% of the women) reported the use of substance(s) once or more in their lives. The majority, 23 (35.9%) used tobacco, 9 (14.1%) used opium and 2 (3.1%) used alcohol. None had used cannabis, heroin, cocaine or LSD. 20 (31.3%) of the subjects (50% of the men and 12.5% of the women) were currently substance dependent, using DSM-IV criteria. The majority, 18 (28.1%) were nicotine dependent, and 6 (9.4%) were opium dependent. There was a nonsignificant relationship between income or occupation or education and prevalence of substance use. The reported reasons for initial use of substance(s), in order of frequency, were enjoyment, modeling and release of tension, and also for current users were, habit, enjoyment and need. Conclusions: Substance use especially cigarettes, opium and alcohol was found to be high among patients. There was no report of cannabis, heroin, cocaine or LSD use. Cultural attitudes toward substance use were found to affect the type and amount of use. These findings can be considered when planning preventive or therapeutic programs.

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“…This is in contrast with studies conducted in the West showing that lifetime use did not vary significantly by sex [4,5].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Substance Use among Iranian Nephrologic Patients

Ahmadi

Benrazavi²

2002

Am J Nephrol

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“…It has been proposed that for many nurses, substance abuse begins while attending nursing school [2] . Governing nursing education bodies have issued challenges to pay more attention to this issue [3] .…”

Section: Background/literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging from the darkness and stepping into the light: Implementing an understanding of the experience of nurse addiction into nursing education

Burton

2014

JNEP

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Abuse of drugs and alcohol occurs across all cultures, generations, and occupations, including nursing. Nurse addiction is a topic of serious concern that is often dismissed or ignored in the profession. Impaired nurses can become dysfunctional in their ability to provide safe, appropriate patient care. This qualitative study explored the lived experience of nurses who have been addicted to substances. Knowledge of this phenomenon may help guide nurses, nurse educators, and nursing students more accurately understand the reality of substance use disorder in the profession. In this qualitative study, 14 nurse addicts in recovery were interviewed about their experiences and risk perceptions. Analysis was conducted through coding, the identification of meanings and themes, and the use of qualitative research software. Five themes were identified from the study: (a) Fear was a significant part of the experience of being a nurse who was addicted; (b) Shame and guilt were felt by nurses who were addicted; (c) Poor coping: Addicted nurses reported having underdeveloped coping skills; (d) Control: Addicted nurses felt an increased need to control their environments; and (e) A core problem inherent in nurses who were addicted was a belief that addiction would never happen to them. Discussion of the five identified themes was followed by a discussion about addiction risk, prevention, and suggestions for application in nursing education. Participants discussed their experience with nurse addiction in their nursing education experiences and offered suggestions for more effective ways to teach the subject in nursing school. Implications for nursing education were then discussed, including using peer educators, namely, recovering nurse addicts, as teachers of this subject. Implications for nurses globally are presented. Finally, the overall theme identified was that addicted nurses often felt misunderstood and judged, and they desired to be accepted among others in the profession.

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“…d assessed the use of alcohol and illicit drug use in student pharmacists, as compared to general college and other health professions students, [6][7][8][9] d measured student pharmacist attitudes regarding the need for university policies directed at raising awareness on alcohol and drug abuse, and university programs to identify impaired students and provide assistance, While the aforementioned body of work has contributed significantly in helping academic pharmacy address issues of addiction and substance abuse, recent work has been more limited. The last set of guidelines was published in 1999.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%