Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Kane, Eileen Marie
• Snethen, Julia A.
• Gwon, Seok Hyun
• Oh, Hyun‐Kyoung

Titel

Affected family members social support experiences when assisting an individual with substance use disorder

Ist Teil von

• Journal of nursing scholarship, 2023-05, Vol.55 (3), p.590-598

Ort / Verlag

United States: Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2023

Quelle

Applied Social Sciences Index & Abstracts (ASSIA)

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Introduction Social support is a factor in the health and well‐being of all populations (WHO, 2018). Having a loved one with substance use disorder (SUD) negatively affects family members. Affected Family Members (AFM) providing support for individual with substance use disorder (ISUD) are at risk of losing their social support network. Losing social support negatively influences AFMs health and well‐being. Design As part of a larger mixed methods study, the researchers used qualitative inquiry to explore the experiences and perceptions of social support of the AFM of an ISUD. Methods The thematic framework of social support was applied to this qualitative study to identify the conceptual determinants of the perceptions and experiences of the AFM and the development of emergent themes. Participants completed an anonymous electronic survey that included Open‐ended questions. A total of 101 participants completed the open‐ended questions with 1088 narrative responses received. The utilization of an audit trail, reflexive journal, and in‐depth thematic analysis conducted by the researchers has ensured the rigor of the study. Results Three themes emerged from the AFMs perspective: (1) We are all alone, and we have to fend for ourselves, (2) No one understands what we are going through and (3) People cannot relate and recoil from us. Conclusion Identification of the specific needs of the AFM was crucial, and the first step in designing programs in future research to provide social support for ensuring the health and well‐being of the AFM. Clinical Relevance Nurses need to provide family‐centred care to ISUD, including their AFMs, in order for the ISUD to continue to receive support to facilitate their recovery. This research highlights ways in which the nurse caring for the ISUD can provide supportive interventions for the AFMs.