Challenges in using patient involvement principles in substance use treatment

ABSTRACT

Background

Health professionals are responsible for implementing patient involvement (PI) in the choice of treatment approach. Previous studies within the field of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment have shown positive patient experiences with PI. However, little is known about challenges experienced by health professionals in converting principles of PI into clinical practice.

Aims

To explore challenges with PI in the treatment of SUD.

Method

Five health professionals working in a Norwegian institution for inpatient treatment of SUD were included and took part in a semi-structured interview. Data were analysed using a systematic text condensation approach.

Results

PI in SUD was perceived as challenging due to conceptual unclarities as well as treatment dilemmas that may challenge the notion of PI as a universal and unified ideological foundation of substance use treatment.

Conclusions

The findings point to a need to critically examine the PI concept and to take a flexible approach in adjusting PI principles to good clinical practice. A framework is launched, allowing the reported challenges in implementing PI in clinical practice to be accepted, acknowledged, and recognized by clinicians as well as by administrators and heads of clinical units.

KEYWORDS:

• Patient involvement
• Substance use treatment
• Substance use disorder
• Qualitative Research
• Experiences

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the participants for sharing their experiences.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured inthis article.

Notes on contributors

Njål Herman Eikeng Sterri

Njål Herman Eikeng Sterri is an assistant professor in nursing at VID Specialized University in Norway, Department of Health Sciences. He has an MSc in mental health care.

Jan. H. Rosenvinge

Jan H. Rosenvinge is a professor (PhD) in clinical and health psychology. He is a licenced psychologist, with a specialist degree in clinical psychology and cognitive therapy.

Gunn Pettersen

Gunn Pettersen is a professor (PhD) in mental health care.