Patients' perceptions of risk factors leading to relapse of alcohol misuse

Abstract

Alcohol addictive problems continue to pose considerable difficulties, including the physical and mental health of the individual himself, and the wider repercussions for families, health systems providing care, and society as a whole. Despite over twenty years of research and discussions into the issue of alcohol relapse, a high percent of alcohol dependent individuals in treatment for alcohol-related problems still relapse. Relapse is often associated with negative implications, which raise images of failure on both the part of the alcohol dependent individual and even perhaps the health care worker. The purpose of this study is to examine how psychiatric nurses can assist the alcohol misuse patient to recognize and prevent high risk situations (intrapersonal, interpersonal, cravings, and outcome expectations) that may lead to relapse. A qualitative, descriptive research design was conducted to achieve the aim and objectives of this study. Through the use of a qualitative approach (semi-structured interviews), six clients who had been attending Non-Governmental Organisational meetings for assistance in ceasing alcohol misuse and had experienced alcohol relapse participated in the research study. This research study is of a phenomenological nature and required the use of thematic analysis. The research study results indicated that alcohol relapse is still very common among individuals in treatment for alcohol related problems. The study findings concluded that lack of family support, lack of community services, peer pressures, unemployment, and non-compliance of prescribed medications are all high risk situations that can lead to relapse. Psychiatric nurses need to motivate, and assist the alcohol dependent person to monitor and identify high risk situations consequently enabling the alcohol dependent person to comprehend that avoiding alcohol relapse is feasible. The dissertation concludes with recommendations completed with reference to the literature and the explicit opinions of the interviewees.