Evaluating client functioning in a harm reduction program in South Africa: insights from a tool derived from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health

South Africa faces the detrimental effects of problematic substance use. The Community Oriented Substance Use Program (COSUP) is a research-based, community-situated harm-reduction program. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) was used as the framework to deve...

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Main Authors: Michelle N. S. Janse van Rensburg, Daleen Casteleijn, Andrew Scheibe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2024.1445176/full
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author Michelle N. S. Janse van Rensburg
Michelle N. S. Janse van Rensburg
Daleen Casteleijn
Andrew Scheibe
author_facet Michelle N. S. Janse van Rensburg
Michelle N. S. Janse van Rensburg
Daleen Casteleijn
Andrew Scheibe
author_sort Michelle N. S. Janse van Rensburg
collection DOAJ
description South Africa faces the detrimental effects of problematic substance use. The Community Oriented Substance Use Program (COSUP) is a research-based, community-situated harm-reduction program. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) was used as the framework to develop a unique tool to determine the functioning of COSUP clients. The study was a quantitative descriptive, cross-sectional design, with data collected from COSUP sites during January 2023 using the COSUP Client Functioning Tool. Twenty-three Likert-scale structured closed questions about clients’ perceptions of their functioning and context were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Open-ended questions about COSUP services were thematically analyzed. Most COSUP clients are working-age African males, and many are unemployed. Clients seem to be coping well physically but need more mental health support. Pressing concerns for COSUP clients are feeling stressed and anxious, an inability to handle stress, poor use of free time, not getting support from others, and not having enough money to meet daily needs. Lack of energy and boredom are significant concerns, along with feelings of rejection and loneliness. Facilitating opportunities for sustaining livelihoods requires focus. Even so, there are those who have a sense of hope due to the positive impact of the program. Basing the COSUP Client Functioning Tool on the ICF framework provided a useful picture of the functioning of people who use/d drugs in their contexts. The COSUP Tool is helpful to guide interventions that are responsive to clients’ needs.
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spelling doaj-art-5494e73a1eae40239a3687dbcd1af9f72025-08-20T02:52:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences2673-68612024-12-01510.3389/fresc.2024.14451761445176Evaluating client functioning in a harm reduction program in South Africa: insights from a tool derived from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and HealthMichelle N. S. Janse van Rensburg0Michelle N. S. Janse van Rensburg1Daleen Casteleijn2Andrew Scheibe3Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Tshwane, South AfricaDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Tshwane, South AfricaCommunity Oriented Primary Care (COPC) Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Tshwane, South AfricaSouth Africa faces the detrimental effects of problematic substance use. The Community Oriented Substance Use Program (COSUP) is a research-based, community-situated harm-reduction program. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) was used as the framework to develop a unique tool to determine the functioning of COSUP clients. The study was a quantitative descriptive, cross-sectional design, with data collected from COSUP sites during January 2023 using the COSUP Client Functioning Tool. Twenty-three Likert-scale structured closed questions about clients’ perceptions of their functioning and context were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Open-ended questions about COSUP services were thematically analyzed. Most COSUP clients are working-age African males, and many are unemployed. Clients seem to be coping well physically but need more mental health support. Pressing concerns for COSUP clients are feeling stressed and anxious, an inability to handle stress, poor use of free time, not getting support from others, and not having enough money to meet daily needs. Lack of energy and boredom are significant concerns, along with feelings of rejection and loneliness. Facilitating opportunities for sustaining livelihoods requires focus. Even so, there are those who have a sense of hope due to the positive impact of the program. Basing the COSUP Client Functioning Tool on the ICF framework provided a useful picture of the functioning of people who use/d drugs in their contexts. The COSUP Tool is helpful to guide interventions that are responsive to clients’ needs.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2024.1445176/fullsubstance usefunctioningharm reductionICFpeople who use drugsCOSUP
spellingShingle Michelle N. S. Janse van Rensburg
Michelle N. S. Janse van Rensburg
Daleen Casteleijn
Andrew Scheibe
Evaluating client functioning in a harm reduction program in South Africa: insights from a tool derived from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health
Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences
substance use
functioning
harm reduction
ICF
people who use drugs
COSUP
title Evaluating client functioning in a harm reduction program in South Africa: insights from a tool derived from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health
title_full Evaluating client functioning in a harm reduction program in South Africa: insights from a tool derived from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health
title_fullStr Evaluating client functioning in a harm reduction program in South Africa: insights from a tool derived from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating client functioning in a harm reduction program in South Africa: insights from a tool derived from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health
title_short Evaluating client functioning in a harm reduction program in South Africa: insights from a tool derived from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health
title_sort evaluating client functioning in a harm reduction program in south africa insights from a tool derived from the international classification of functioning disability and health
topic substance use
functioning
harm reduction
ICF
people who use drugs
COSUP
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2024.1445176/full
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