Nurses’ Readiness in Caring for Drug Addicted Patients with Psychiatric Symptoms in Drug Dependent Treatment Center and Thanyarak Institute

Abstract

The objective of the study was to study the level of nurses’ readiness in caring for Drug Addicted Patients with psychiatric symptoms and barriers. Sample were 212 nurses in inpatient unit at drug dependence treatment centers and institutes Thanyarak Institue between on May 2010 and July 2010. The tool comprised 3 part: general questionnaire, questionnaire of nurses’ readiness in caring for drug addicted patients with psychiatric symptoms, barriers and suggestion forwards rediness. Content validity of the tool was assessed by three experts. The reliability of tool was tested by using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and its yielded a value of .96. Data were analyzed using percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The research found that the level of nurses’ readiness in caring for drug addicted patients with psychiatric symstom was at moderate level ( = 3.61, SD = 0.53), as well as each component: assessment ( =3.65, SD=0.51), plan ( = 3.59, SD = 0.61), implementation ( = 3.61, SD. = 0.56) and evaluation ( = 3.60, SD. = 0.61) The main barriers was 40.6 % of nurses had not been educated about drug addiction with psychiatric symptoms. It is necessary for nurses who work with drug addiction with psychiatric symptom to gain the knowledge and training in caring for drug addicted patients that could enable the effectiveness of nursing care