The significance of drinking context for home detoxification

A research study was conducted to examine the concordance between the severity of alcohol dependence and the nursing activity found in an episode of care for home detoxification. This article is based on an audit of clients' records which formed part of the research project. The aim was establish the degree of dependence through the application of a severity assessment instrument and to relate this to the level of nursing activity from the recorded client contacts.

Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained from a clinical audit of each client's nursing and medical notes. Examination of the data provided an insight into the client's drinking context.

The findings demonstrated substantial levels of drinking at home, drinking alone, and all-day drinking. This could have significant implications for traditional methods of assessment and the routine practice of home detoxification.

Evidence from the audit suggests that criteria such as environmental and psychosocial issues should be considered alongside physical and psychological aspects as part of the assessment criteria for home detoxification. Some clients might benefit from alternative strategies such as outpatient detoxification, day-patient attendance detoxification, or specialist inpatient treatment rather than home detoxification.