Inpatient detoxification for alcohol and other drug use: qualitative study of patients’ accounts of their relationships with staff
Abstract Background The therapeutic alliance is an important predictor of treatment outcomes but people who use alcohol and other drugs report mixed views of treatment providers. We analysed patients’ accounts of inpatient detoxification staff to ascertain whether, and if so how, relationships with...
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BMC
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Addiction Science & Clinical Practice |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-024-00523-0 |
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| author | Joanne Neale Beth Cairns Kevin Gardiner Wulf Livingston Trevor McCarthy Andrew Perkins |
| author_facet | Joanne Neale Beth Cairns Kevin Gardiner Wulf Livingston Trevor McCarthy Andrew Perkins |
| author_sort | Joanne Neale |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The therapeutic alliance is an important predictor of treatment outcomes but people who use alcohol and other drugs report mixed views of treatment providers. We analysed patients’ accounts of inpatient detoxification staff to ascertain whether, and if so how, relationships with them, and thus the therapeutic alliance, might be improved. Methods Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted (in 2022/2023) with 20 people (14 males; 6 females) who had just completed inpatient detoxification in sixteen different facilities. Interviews were part of a larger longitudinal qualitative evaluation of an initiative to increase inpatient detoxification capacity across England. Results Patients described how treatment was delivered by professionals with diverse roles. They rated staff highly and appreciated their personal qualities; the standard of medical care and non-medical services they provided; their willingness to provide privacy, freedom and choice; the support given at key points in the treatment journey; and the positive impact staff relationships had on their substance use and lives more generally. Criticisms of staff were infrequent, mostly related to specific individuals or events, and potentially more common when detoxification occurred within general hospitals rather than within specialist services. Conclusions Patients’ accounts of staff in this study were more positive than documented in previous literature. However, the characteristics that patients appreciated (and disliked) were consistent with earlier research. There was scope to improve in some services and patient groups not interviewed may have held more negative views of staff. Overall, the holistic and patient-centred approach that staff adopted, and patients valued, appears to contribute to a good therapeutic alliance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-80351fe3faa348229d3053d7552525db |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1940-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Addiction Science & Clinical Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-80351fe3faa348229d3053d7552525db2025-08-20T02:31:19ZengBMCAddiction Science & Clinical Practice1940-06402024-12-011911910.1186/s13722-024-00523-0Inpatient detoxification for alcohol and other drug use: qualitative study of patients’ accounts of their relationships with staffJoanne Neale0Beth Cairns1Kevin Gardiner2Wulf Livingston3Trevor McCarthy4Andrew Perkins5Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, National Addiction Centre, King’s College LondonFigure 8 Consultancy Services LtdFigure 8 Consultancy Services LtdFaculty of Social and Life Sciences, Wrexham UniversityFigure 8 Consultancy Services LtdFigure 8 Consultancy Services LtdAbstract Background The therapeutic alliance is an important predictor of treatment outcomes but people who use alcohol and other drugs report mixed views of treatment providers. We analysed patients’ accounts of inpatient detoxification staff to ascertain whether, and if so how, relationships with them, and thus the therapeutic alliance, might be improved. Methods Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted (in 2022/2023) with 20 people (14 males; 6 females) who had just completed inpatient detoxification in sixteen different facilities. Interviews were part of a larger longitudinal qualitative evaluation of an initiative to increase inpatient detoxification capacity across England. Results Patients described how treatment was delivered by professionals with diverse roles. They rated staff highly and appreciated their personal qualities; the standard of medical care and non-medical services they provided; their willingness to provide privacy, freedom and choice; the support given at key points in the treatment journey; and the positive impact staff relationships had on their substance use and lives more generally. Criticisms of staff were infrequent, mostly related to specific individuals or events, and potentially more common when detoxification occurred within general hospitals rather than within specialist services. Conclusions Patients’ accounts of staff in this study were more positive than documented in previous literature. However, the characteristics that patients appreciated (and disliked) were consistent with earlier research. There was scope to improve in some services and patient groups not interviewed may have held more negative views of staff. Overall, the holistic and patient-centred approach that staff adopted, and patients valued, appears to contribute to a good therapeutic alliance.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-024-00523-0DetoxificationInpatientSubstance useTherapeutic allianceQualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Joanne Neale Beth Cairns Kevin Gardiner Wulf Livingston Trevor McCarthy Andrew Perkins Inpatient detoxification for alcohol and other drug use: qualitative study of patients’ accounts of their relationships with staff Addiction Science & Clinical Practice Detoxification Inpatient Substance use Therapeutic alliance Qualitative research |
| title | Inpatient detoxification for alcohol and other drug use: qualitative study of patients’ accounts of their relationships with staff |
| title_full | Inpatient detoxification for alcohol and other drug use: qualitative study of patients’ accounts of their relationships with staff |
| title_fullStr | Inpatient detoxification for alcohol and other drug use: qualitative study of patients’ accounts of their relationships with staff |
| title_full_unstemmed | Inpatient detoxification for alcohol and other drug use: qualitative study of patients’ accounts of their relationships with staff |
| title_short | Inpatient detoxification for alcohol and other drug use: qualitative study of patients’ accounts of their relationships with staff |
| title_sort | inpatient detoxification for alcohol and other drug use qualitative study of patients accounts of their relationships with staff |
| topic | Detoxification Inpatient Substance use Therapeutic alliance Qualitative research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-024-00523-0 |
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