Hospitalised Saudi problem drinkers: A psychosocial profile

Al-Dakhil, Abdulaziz A (2002) Hospitalised Saudi problem drinkers: A psychosocial profile. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Many characteristics of those entering alcohol treatment in Saudi Arabia remain unknown. Above all, their psychosocial characteristics and their patterns of drinking. In order to provide adequate and effective treatment and prevention intervention, it is necessary, before anything else, to elicit the facts about those with alcohol problems. As part of solving the mystery of alcohol problems in Saudi Arabia, the main objective of this research is to draw a general profile and investigate the patterns of drinking of hospitalised problem drinkers in Saudi Arabia. To achieve this goal, 136 hospitalised patients and 11 therapists were interviewed. The interviewed patients consisted almost entirely of male patients who, at the time of data collection, were hospitalised for having an alcohol problem in four of Saudi Arabia's treatment hospitals (Al-Amal hospitals in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Qaseem). Two instruments were implemented for use with the patients. The first was a comprehensive instrument devised by the researcher to elicit information regarding the psychosocial profile of hospitalised problem drinkers. The second was the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), which was used to identify problem drinking as well the frequency and the quantity of drinking. The therapists, however, were selected from Al-Amal hospital in Riyadh. Unlike the patients' interviews, the therapists' interviews were semi-structured and were aimed at eliciting more information regarding problem drinking and its treatment from the therapist's point of view. The results showed that a typical profile of a hospitalised Saudi problem drinker is that he is most likely to be of younger age (20-35 years old), married, of little education (high school or less), on a low income (less than 3000SR), and unemployed. In addition, if currently or previously employed, the hospitalised Saudi problem drinker is likely to hold an administrative post, live in a city, occupy a house which is owned by others and shared with seven people or more. The parents of a typical hospitalised Saudi problem drinker are most likely not living together, as a result of either separation, divorce or the death of one or both of them. The parents are most likely to be illiterate, and have a history of remarriage. Furthermore, if married or previously married, the hospitalised Saudi problem drinker is most likely to have an uneducated housewife and more than three children. Contrary to the drinking practices in many countries where alcohol is allowed, araq and cologne are the most common types of alcohol consumed by hospitalised problem drinkers. Although it is forbidden, alcohol is easily accessible, especially in the form of cologne. Alcohol drinking mostly takes place in hidden places, at home, in private resorts or outside the city. Many hospitalised problem drinkers restrict the time of their drinking to weekends. Another finding of this research shows that about a quarter of the patients are not really alcohol dependants. Most hospitalised problem drinkers, including those with high alcohol dependence, abstain during the holy month of Ramadan. The majority of hospitalised problem drinkers are smokers (cigarettes and shisha), and users of illegal drugs (hashish is the commonest). The interviews with therapists confirmed many of the research findings produced by investigations of the patients. Also, they provided many suggestions regarding the improvement of treatment and prevention of alcohol problems in Saudi Arabia. The implications of the research findings are discussed in depth in the last chapter.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: Neil McKegancy
• Keywords: Clinical psychology
• Date of Award: 2002
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2002-72694
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 11 Jun 2019 11:06
• Last Modified: 11 Jun 2019 11:06
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/72694