An Exploratory Study of Care Given to Drug Users by Health Care and Social Care Professionals, Focussing on Knowledge and Attitudes

Carroll, James (1993) An Exploratory Study of Care Given to Drug Users by Health Care and Social Care Professionals, Focussing on Knowledge and Attitudes. MSc(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The research is concerned with exploring the relationships between professionals and drug users, particularly in terms of their knowledge and attitudes. The general aims of the study are as follows: Firstly, to explore the relationship between the knowledge and attitudes of professionals and of drug users; Secondly, to identify the influence, if any, of such characteristics as age, sex, occupation, and work area; Thirdly, to identify the relationship, if any, between knowledge and attitudes and perceptions of service delivery; Fourthly, to compare the views of professionals and drug users about the characteristics of professionals considered to be conducive to therapeutic relationships. Both the attitude survey and the knowledge scale were administered to professionals and drug users. However, the knowledge scale administered to drug users differed from the scale given to professionals insofar as it was partially written in "street language". The third part of the instrument used asked both groups about their perceptions of service delivery. The main study was carried out in 4 Health Boards, 4 Prisons and one Regional Social Work Department in the West of Scotland. The results indicated that there was a relationship between knowledge and attitudes among both professionals and drug users. A significant relationship was found between the characteristics of professionals and knowledge and attitudes. No such relationship was found among drug users. A significant relationship was found between knowledge and attitudes and the perceptions of professionals about service delivery, but no such relationship was found among drug users. Finally, professionals and drug users were found to show significant differences in evaluating the characteristics of professionals which were conducive to therapeutic relationships. The research concludes that there is a need for much greater education and training as the knowledge base of both groups was found to be lower than expected. As the attitudes of professionals were found to be inimical to good practice, further research is needed to explore the reasons for this finding. The characteristics of professionals were shown to be associated with attitudes but further research is needed to clarify the nature of this relationship. The relationship shown between knowledge and attitudes is significant in the case of professionals, although slight. Finally, a divergence was shown between the views of professionals and drug users which may be due to differing perspectives and expectations. However, this divergence must be reduced if the relationship between the two groups is to be improved.

• Item Type: Thesis (MSc(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Additional Information: Adviser: Eamon Shanley
• Keywords: Nursing
• Date of Award: 1993
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1993-75333
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 19 Nov 2019 20:50
• Last Modified: 19 Nov 2019 20:50
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/75333