Exploring care of hospital inpatients with substance involvement

This article presents demographic and care factors related to persons who are substance-involved and require inpatient administration of intravenous antibiotics.

This study was conducted to explore healthcare responses to support substance-involved inpatients, through exploration of documented client outcomes, healthcare provider accounts, and representation of clients through documentation.

A patient-oriented research team undertook this multiple methods, exploratory study. A health record review included people admitted to a complex continuing care hospital, within a 2-year period, for long-term antibiotic treatment and concurrent illicit substance use. Correlations were examined between whether or not clients were discharged against medical advice (AMA) in comparison to demographic, medical, and care-related factors. Qualitative analysis of narrative health record data was undertaken. Semi-structured interviews of healthcare providers and decision makers were conducted.

Twenty-five people met recruitment criteria for health record review; three people were admitted twice, resulting in 28 admissions. Interviews with seven healthcare providers and decision makers uncovered themes of client autonomy, professional liability, client responsibility, the "right" service, and burnout, hopelessness, and helplessness.

Recommended strategies to effectively respond to substance use among clients admitted for general medical concerns are: i) support inpatients with complex health needs, including substance use, ii) ensure substance use and addiction services are integrated into all inpatient practice areas, iii) support effective harm reduction practices for hospital-admitted clients, and iv) develop robust policies and protocols to support healthcare providers and inpatients.