Modifiable health risk behaviours and attitudes towards behaviour change of clients attending community-based substance use treatment services

AbstractObjectiveNational data for the USA show increases in sports and energy drink consumption over the past decade with the largest increases among young adults aged 20–34 years. The present study aimed to identify sociodemographic factors and health-risk behaviours associated with sports and energy drink consumption among young adults.DesignCross-sectional analysis of survey data from the third wave of a cohort study (Project EAT-III: Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults). Regression models stratified on gender and adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics were used to examine associations of sports and energy drink consumption with eating behaviours, physical activity, media use, weight-control behaviours, sleep patterns and substance use.SettingParticipants completed baseline surveys in 1998–1999 as students at public secondary schools in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, USA and the EAT-III surveys online or by mail in 2008–2009.SubjectsThe sample consisted of 2287 participants (55 % female, mean age 25·3 years).ResultsResults showed 31·0 % of young adults consumed sports drinks and 18·8 % consumed energy drinks at least weekly. Among men and women, sports drink consumption was associated with higher sugar-sweetened soda and fruit juice intake, video game use and use of muscle-enhancing substances like creatine (P≤0·01). Energy drink consumption was associated with lower breakfast frequency and higher sugar-sweetened soda intake, video game use, use of unhealthy weight-control behaviours, trouble sleeping and substance use among men and women (P<0·05).ConclusionsHealth professionals should consider the clustering of sports and energy drink consumption with other unhealthy behaviours in the design of programmes and services for young adults.

Download Full-text

Experiences from a Community Based Substance Use Treatment Centre in an Urban Resettlement Colony in India

Journal of Addiction ◽

10.1155/2014/982028 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Yatan Pal Singh Balhara ◽

Rajeev Ranjan ◽

Anju Dhawan ◽

Deepak Yadav

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Substance Use Disorder ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Oral Morphine ◽

Community Setting ◽

Substance Use Treatment ◽

Community Based ◽

Treatment Services ◽

Socially Disadvantaged ◽

Treatment Centre

Background. There are limited community based treatment services for drug dependence in India. Rural areas and urban resettlement colonies are in particular deficient in such services.Aims. The current study aimed at preliminary assessment of substance use disorder management services at a community based substance use treatment clinic in an urban resettlement colony.Methods. The study was carried out at community based substance use treatment centre in a resettlement colony in India. The records of the centre were chart reviewed.Results. A total of 754 patients were registered at the clinic during the study period. Heroin was the primary drug of abuse for 63% of the patients. The mean duration of follow-up for the patients with opioid and alcohol dependence was 13.47 (SD±10.37; range 0–39) months. A total of 220 patients of opioid dependence were prescribed substation or abstinence directed therapy. Buprenorphine (87), slow release oral morphine (SROM) (16), and dextropropoxyphene (98) were used for opioid substitution.Conclusion. It is possible to deliver substance use disorder treatment services in community setting. There is a need to develop area specific community based treatment services for substance abuse in socially disadvantaged populations such as urban resettlement colonies.

Download Full-text

Developing Brief Opportunistic Interactions: practitioners facilitate patients to identify and change health risk behaviours at an early preventive stage

Primary Health Care Research & Development ◽

10.1017/s1463423615000511 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 17 (04) ◽

pp. 319-332 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Barbara Docherty ◽

Nicolette Sheridan ◽

Timothy Kenealy

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Health Risk ◽

Motivational Interviewing ◽

Behaviour Change ◽

Early Stage ◽

Screening Tools ◽

Risk Behaviours ◽

Patient Behaviour ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Health Risk Behaviours

AimTo identify shortcomings in existing models of patient behaviour change, and present the development and testing of a novel approach using practitioner facilitation and person-focussed conversations that identifies and addresses behaviours at an earlier stage than current models.BackgroundSystematic strategies used by health professionals to change patient behaviours began with motivational interviewing and brief intervention approaches for serious addictive behaviours. Practitioners typically presume they should drive the process of patient behaviour change. Attempts to transfer these approaches to primary care, and a broader range of health risk behaviours, have been less successful. The TADS programme (Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Drugs, later Training and Development Services) began teaching motivational interviewing and brief interventions to practitioners in New Zealand in 1996. Formal and informal evaluations showed that practitioners used screening tools that patients rejected and that led to incomplete disclosure, used language that did not engage patients, failed to identify the behaviours patients wished to address and therefore misdirected interventions.MethodsIterative development of new tools with input from patients and primary care clinicians.FindingsThe TADS programme developed a questionnaire whose results remained private to the patient, which enabled the patient to identify personal behaviours that they might choose to change (the TADS Personal Assessment Choice Tool). This was assisted by a brief conversation that facilitated and supported any change prioritised by the patient (the TADS Brief Opportunistic Interaction). The need for this approach, and its effectiveness, appeared to be similar across adults, youth, different ethnic groups and people in different socio-economic circumstances. Behaviours patients identified were often linked to other health risk behaviours or early-stage mental health disorders that were not easily detected by practitioner-driven screening or inquiry. The long-term effectiveness of this approach in different populations in primary health care settings requires further evaluation.

Download Full-text

Far from acceptable: youth-reported risk behaviour screening by primary care physicians

Family Practice ◽

10.1093/fampra/cmaa068 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 37 (6) ◽

pp. 759-765

Author(s):

Taslina Eisner-Fellay ◽

Christina Akre ◽

Diane Auderset ◽

Yara Barrense-Dias ◽

Joan-Carles Suris

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Health Risk ◽

Primary Care Physicians ◽

Economic Status ◽

Personal Characteristics ◽

Risk Behaviour ◽

Risk Behaviours ◽

Emotional Wellbeing ◽

Health Risk Behaviours ◽

Low Levels

Abstract Background Adolescence and early adulthood are periods of experimentation during which health detrimental behaviours might be acquired. Objective This study’s purpose is to evaluate physicians’ likelihood of addressing health risk behaviours with youths depending on the youths’ wishes, risk behaviours and personal characteristics. Methods Data were drawn from the third wave (2017–18) of the GenerationFRee longitudinal study carried out on a sample of 1970 youths aged 17–26 in Switzerland. Analysed risk behaviours were: eating disorders, substance use, emotional wellbeing, problematic Internet use and gambling. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed, results are presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs). Results Physicians discussed most risk behaviours with less than half of the youths. The odds of addressing risk behaviours were seldom raised when the risk behaviour was present, or when the youth wished to discuss it. Emotional wellbeing was addressed with half as many males as females (aOR 0.47), and drugs were found to be addressed more frequently with youths reporting a low family socio-economic status (aOR 6.18). When a risk behaviour is addressed it is mostly alongside an extended screening. Conclusions This study confirmed the low levels of health risk behaviours screening, regardless of the youths’ wish to discuss the topic with their physician. Despite the low levels, physicians do tend to screen systematically, especially when discussing substance use. There is a need to improve physicians training in risk behaviour screening and counselling in order to increase this practice.

Download Full-text