Individuals With Opioid Dependence Using Polysubstances: How Do They Experience Acute Hospital Care and What Are...

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Qualitative Health Research
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Opioid dependence with polysubstance use is a chronic illness with significant health and social impacts.
• Inadequate healthcare provision for this population is linked to stigma and lack of professional expertise.
• Acute care settings in German-speaking Switzerland likely face similar challenges in providing adequate care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences and needs of patients with opioid dependence and polysubstance use in acute hospital settings.
• To identify potential adaptations for improving care provision for this vulnerable patient group.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving interviews with twelve individuals undergoing opioid substitution therapy.
• Data analysis conducted using qualitative content analysis according to Mayring.

Main Results:

• Patients report positive experiences when healthcare professionals maintain a good relationship with them.
• Substitution medication is crucial, yet its management during hospitalization reveals persistent stigma, insufficient professional knowledge, and poor interprofessional collaboration.
• Patients' expertise and involvement in their treatment and care are often overlooked.

Conclusions:

• Effective treatment in acute hospitals necessitates staff with both somatic and psychiatric training.
• Evidence-based harm reduction models and multiprofessional treatment teams are promising approaches for this patient population.