Qualitatively and quantitatively evaluating harm-reduction goal setting among chronically homeless individuals with alcohol dependence

Abstract

Most treatment programs for alcohol dependence have prioritized alcohol abstinence as the primary treatment goal. However, abstinence-based goals are not always considered desirable or attainable by more severely affected populations, such as chronically homeless people with alcohol dependence. Because these individuals comprise a multimorbid and high-utilizing population, they are in need of more focused research attention that elucidates their preferred treatment goals. The aim of this secondary study was therefore to qualitatively and quantitatively document participant-generated treatment goals. Participants were currently or formerly chronically homeless individuals (N=31) with alcohol dependence who participated in a pilot of extended-release naltrexone and harm-reduction counseling. Throughout the treatment period, study interventionists elicited participants’ goals and recorded them on an open-ended grid. In subsequent weeks, progress towards and achievement of goals was obtained via self-report and recorded by study interventionists. Conventional content analysis was performed to classify participant-generated treatment goals. Representation of the three top categories remained stable over the course of treatment. In the order of their frequency, they included drinking-related goals, quality-of-life goals and health-related goals. Within the category of drinking-related goals, participants consistently endorsed reducing drinking and alcohol-related consequences ahead of abstinence-based goals. Quantitative analyses indicated participants generated an increasing number of goals over the course of treatment. Proportions of goals achieved and progressed toward kept pace with this increase. Findings confirmed hypotheses that chronically homeless people with alcohol dependence can independently generate and achieve treatment goals toward alcohol harm reduction and quality-of-life improvement.

Does Country of Origin Matter whilst Evaluating Candidates for Managerial Positions?

“…As far as the social mechanism is concerned, the presence of the foreigner might have switched on someone's self-control mechanism and revealed social desirability bias, i.e. a tendency to present oneself in a positive, socially desirable manner to others [Collins et al 2015]. Hence, the participants in study A could have been more aware that exposing preferences for local managers violate the rule of being open-minded, cooperative, objective, etc.…”

Quality of life and its correlates in alcohol dependent males: rehab inpatients and shelter or hostel homeless persons

“…dalszych badań zależności "wsparcie a jakość życia" wśród osób bezdomnych. Dla przykładu badania z 2015 r. pokazały, że poprawa jakości życia u osób bezdomnych uzależnionych od alkoholu była zwią-zana z redukcją szkód zdrowotnych [41].…”

“…Namely et al suggest that reduction of drinking contributes to the improvement in the quality of life of the homeless [41]. This means that activity designed to increase the quality of life in the homeless group ought to be directed mainly at the problems concerning dependency.…”

“…Meanwhile, among the homeless an improvement in the same quality of life components could be gained through early interventions cutting down the drinking binges and optimisation of social support [41].…”

“…The results described above suggest the need for further studies on the relation between "sup- port and the quality of life" among the homeless. For example, studies from 2015 revealed that an improvement in the quality of life of the homeless dependant on alcohol is connected to the health harm reduction [41].…”