“What are nurses’ experiences and perceptions of caring for patients with drug dependency in surgical-medical wards? A Phenomenological study of Scottish nurses”

Abstract

Aim: This research aims to gain insight, and a deeper understanding into the experiences and perceptions of nurses caring for patients with drug dependency in surgical-medical wards in Scotland Background: Illicit drug use remains a global problem. With the rise in its prevalence, the strain on hospitals becomes apparent with the rise in presenting to hospital with complicated health conditions as a consequence of their drug use. Research has shown that nurses’ struggle to manage the complex nature of their health conditions due to an array of negative attitudes, lack of knowledge, competence, and self-esteem, being a contributing factor to the provision of suboptimal care to this patient population. Evidence highlighted this contribute to a nurse-patient relationship fuelled by distrust and dis-engagement which contributes to worsened patient outcomes. Establishing a strong relationship bound by mutual trust and respect is fundamental for persons with drug dependency to thrive in their recovery and seek medical assistance. Methods: Working within the realms of the qualitative paradigm, an interpretive phenological approach will be adopted. Ten participants working in medical-surgical wards will be recruited to partake in one to-one semi-structured interviews which will be carried out over the course of a 12-week period in an Acute Hospital in Edinburgh. Participants will be consented for the interviews to be recorded to strengthen accuracy in findings. Interviews will consist of open-ended questions, and prompts will be employed throughout to empower openness in collecting rich, in-depth information about the participants experiences in maintaining a phenomenological approach and gaining new understandings. Relevance to Practice: It is hoped that bringing these findings forward within clinical practice will work towards increased organisational support, education, and self-efficiency for nurses’ in the provision of care to persons with addictions. From bringing awareness of nurses’ true experiences, will reflect change in increasing nurses’ wellbeing whilst caring for this patient population, alongside establishing positive person-centred outcomes.