Page 72 - Hospital Authority Convention 2017

Service Enhancement Presentations
HOSPITAL AUTHORITY CONVENTION 2017

F6.3 Enhancing Partnership with Patients and Community 10:45 Room 421

Preliminary Findings on Keys of Success in Rehabilitation for Substance Abusers
Lai FHY, Tse PLC, Chiu FBF, Fan SHU, Cheung JCC, Chan ASM, Ho ECW, Tse TLY, So BTY, Tsui JWM, Cheung JPH, Chen EWC,
Chan SHY, Wong SKM
Occupational Therapy Department, Tai Po Hospital, Hong Kong

Introduction
Substance abuse (SA) has been a problem with every society and across every generation. It remains one of the major
problems in Hong Kong. The increasing number of substance abusers in Hong Kong causes a huge impact to our healthcare
system, considering that the consumption of illegal drugs impacts both emotional and physical health, potentially causing
long lasting damage (Yuen, 2001). It has long been believed that social problem was one of the most prominent factors
of substance abusers. Therefore, it is important to identify specific needs, determine appropriateness for treatment and
facilitate communication with hospital healthcare and community partners which are providing SA rehabilitation services
(Lehman, Simpson, Knight & Flynn, 2011).
Objectives
The study aims to measure rehabilitation needs and social problem solving style of SA patients through a set of modular
assessments. This study endorsed the Treatment Process Model (TCU) by Simpson (2004), which incorporates evidence of
pre-treatment factors; and specific-tailored treatment in promoting positive and sustainable changes over time.

Methodology
In 2016, 40 male substance abusers admitted to a regional psychiatric hospital were recruited. The ages of participants
ranged from 18 to 48 years old (mean=28.2, SD=5.1), but 78% were between 21 and 30 years old. Treatment Needs and
Motivation Assessment (Lam, Ng & Boey, 2002) was used to examine their ability in problem recognition, their desire for help,
treatment readiness and their specific treatment needs. Drug Involvement Scale – DIS (Lam, Ng & Boey, 2002) was used
to assess their problematic beliefs and values. To note for social problem tendency, the Chinese Social Problem Solving
Inventory (Siu & Shek, 2005) was adopted to assess for positive problem orientation, rational problem solving, avoidance,
negative problem orientation, impulsiveness and carelessness in their social problem solving.

Results
All forty participants showed they had adequate knowledge on the adversity of substance abuse (t = 4.5, p < .01). Moreover,
all participants showed the correct attitudes towards quitting SA. It is worthy pointing out that their responses could be out
of social desirability as suggested by Yuen (2001) and Narcotic Division (2002). Subjects showed to have avoidance (p < .01),
negative problem orientation (p < .001), impulsiveness (p < .05) and carelessness (p < .05) in their social problem solving.
Alike the findings from Simpson & Joe (1993), motivation for treatment like problem recognition, desire for help and treatment
readiness, is closely tied to positive problem orientation (r = .68, p < .01). Moreover, acknowledgement of personal and social
problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, hostility, risk taking) is negatively correlating with stimulant relapsing (r = -.58, p < .05). In
preventing further relapsing, different strategies would be suggested to different types of social problem solving styles.
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