“I tried to get help about my addiction but he just gave me tablets:” male Aboriginal drug and alcohol rehabilitation clients’ experiences and preferences speaking about substance use in primary care

BMC Primary Care

Research

Joe Coyte¹  Sara Farnbach²  Matthew Simms³  Maree L. Hackett⁴  Jamie Fernando⁵ 

[1] CEO, The Glen Centre (Ngaimpe), Chittaway Point, Australia;National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre and The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, 2052, Sydney, NSW, Australia;South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation, Nowra, Australia;The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW, The University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK;The Glen Centre (Ngaimpe), Chittaway Point, Australia;

关键词: Substance-related disorders;    Primary health care;    Health Services Accessibility;    Oceanic Ancestry Group;    Australia;    Aboriginal;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12875-023-01983-0

 received in 2021-10-21, accepted in 2023-01-13,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPrimary healthcare (PHC) services are crucial in supporting people who use substances. The aims of this study were to explore the experiences of Aboriginal males in NSW in treatment for substance use about speaking about their substance use with PHC staff, and their preferences for accessing PHC about their substance use.MethodsSemi-structured interviews with residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatment service clients. Thematic analysis was used to develop themes inductively and deductively. Two interviews were independently double coded by an Aboriginal researcher and the project was supported by an Aboriginal Advisory Group.ResultsTwenty male adults who self-identified as Aboriginal participated (mean age 27 years). Half reported visiting PHC and talking about their substance use before their residential service stay. Two major themes developed: (1) speaking up about substance use or mental health problems linked with substance use, (2) ways to improve access to PHC about substance use. Although some males were offered treatment, some were not, and others had concerns about the treatments offered.ConclusionThis research highlights opportunities to improve access and to better support Aboriginal males who use substances in PHC. Focus on culturally appropriate PHC and providing staff with training around substance use and treatment options may improve access. It is important to foster culturally appropriate services, develop PHC staff knowledge around substance use, focus on therapeutic relationships and have a range of treatment options available that can be tailored to individual circumstances.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

【 图 表 】

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