Perceptions of persons with alcohol dependence, family, and healthcare providers towards causes of post-treatment relapse

Abstract

© 2020, Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council. All rights reserved. This paper reports the qualitative first phase of a participatory action research study to develop a model for preventing alcohol-dependent relapse in a tertiary hospital. The aim of this phase of the study was to explore the perceptions of persons with alcohol dependence, family, and healthcare providers towards causes of post-treatment relapse among those with alcohol dependence. Focus group discussions were conducted with 9 healthcare providers and 8 persons with alcohol dependence who had been readmitted to hospital. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 healthcare providers, 6 persons with alcohol dependence, and 14 members of their families. The data were analyzed using content analysis. Causes of relapse were categorized as follows; 1) brain dysfunction, 2) dealing with psychological distress, 3) lack of readiness to receive treatment, 4) lack of family support for alcohol cessation, 5) living in drinking environment, 6) inadequate discharge planning assessment, and 7) constraints of resources for preventing alcohol relapse. The findings are useful for healthcare providers to understand regarding the causes of relapse in persons with alcohol dependence, and to help them develop interventions and strategies to minimize alcohol relapse among persons with alcohol dependence.