Factors Influencing Nurses ’ Attitudes towards Patients in Jordanian Addiction Rehabilitation Centres: a Qualitative Study

This study aims to describe nurses ’ attitudes and the underlying factors influencing nurses’ attitudes towards patients in two addiction rehabilitation centers in Jordan. Employing a case study design, using ethnographic fieldwork, we collected data from a purposive sample of twenty-one clinical nurses, using semi-structured int erviews, which were analyzed for themes derived from the literature. Negative nurses’ attitudes towards “addicted” patients ranged from stigmatization, marginalization, avoidance of patients, to class discrimination. Major socio-cultural factors (honor-gender-shame triad, socialization process , mass media, perceiving addiction as a “hopeless” condition), and other contributory factors played a role in constructing nurses’ negative attitudes. We recommend a nursing curriculum that includes education regarding addiction behavioral patterns, and a continuing education regarding patien ts’ rights, legal and ethical aspects of nursing care.
Source: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction - Category: Addiction Source Type: research