Nurses' practices for patients' alcohol problems

Abstract

(41st Biennial Convention) The aims of this study were to explore(1) nurses' practices for patients' alcohol problems, (2) nurses' confidence, responsibility, belief and knowledge about their practices for patients' alcohol problems, and (3) the impact of nurses' characteristics, personal experiences, confidence, responsibility, belief and knowledge on their practices for patients' alcohol problems. Cross-sectional design was adopted using purpose sampling and a regional hospital in central Taiwan and a medical center in southern Taiwan were used as study sites. A survey was a questionnaire was designed to collect the necessary data.Total of 172 nurses were participated in this study. The nurses' practices for alcohol problems total average score was 23.75 (SD=4.39). All of the other scores were low: the mean score of nurses' confidence for alcohol problems was 23.22 (SD=4.95); the mean score of nurses' responsibility for alcohol problems was 20.84 (SD=5.22); the mean score of nurses' belief for alcohol problems was 45.58 (SD=7.92) and the correct rate of nurses' knowledge for alcohol problems was 37.75%. Their practices for alcohol problems scores were significantly differed by work unit (?2=22.82, p<0.05). In addition, nurses' confidence (r=.57, p<0.01), responsibility (r=.61, p<0.01) and belief (r=.18, p=0.02) were significantly and positively correlated with the nurses' practices for alcohol problems. Finally, a hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to by entering nurses' characteristics, personal experiences and confidence, responsibility, belief and knowledge. These variables were found to contribute to 58% of the variation of nursing practices for patients' alcohol problems, while work unit (gastroenterology ward, ?=.22, t=2.98, p<0.01; psychology ward, ?=.14, t=1.73, p<0.01), confidence (?=.44, t=5.97, p<0.01)and responsibility (?=.33, t=4.00, p<0.01) can be used as predicting factors. The�results showed that few assessments, screening and referral�for alcohol problems were performed by nurses. Moreover, nurses who worked in the emergency ward had fewer practices for patients' alcohol problems than who worked in the psychology and gastroenterology ward.