Substance Use Disorder Screening and Treatment Barriers in Ayder Specialized Hospital: a Phenomenological Study on Poly Substance Users

Abstract

Substance use disorder (SUD) screening is reported to be very challenging, and it needs careful evaluation of patients’ behavior by highly experienced professionals in that particular area. The current study was primarily intended to identify the implementation of SUD screening and treatment barriers in the hospital care. For the sake of assessing participants’ lived experiences and subjective realities, the researchers used a phenomenological research design. Furthermore, 26 participants(twenty poly substance users and six mental healthcare providers) were selected purposefully in order to address the intended information from the target individuals using a semi-structured interview. Accordingly, participants’ reports were analyzed, putting them into four categories (thematic areas) i.e., patient level factors, healthcare provider level factors, family level factors and system level factors were among the substance use screening and treatment barriers. Based on the findings, awareness creation activities should be made on SUD screening and treatment; healthcare providers should receive continuous short and long term trainings, and the therapeutic environment should be inviting for patients.