Views on treatment adherence among psychoactive substance-dependent women in the outpatient setting: a qualitative study Significados atribuídos por mulheres dependentes de substâncias psicoativas à adesão ao tratamento no contexto ambulatorial: um estudo qualitativo

• Published in: Trends in psychiatry and psychotherapy 2012-01, Vol.34 (4), p.198-206
• Main Authors: Dione Viégas Almeida Ribeiro, Egberto Ribeiro Turato, Renata Cruz Soares de Azevedo, Claudinei José Gomes Campos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: cooperação do paciente; desistência ao tratamento; patient compliance; patient dropout; Pesquisa qualitativa; Qualitative research; saúde da mulher; serviços de saúde da mulher; substance-related disorders; transtornos relacionados ao uso de substâncias; women's health; women's health services
• ISSN: 2237-6089; 2238-0019

INTRODUCTION: In the female population, adherence to specialist clinical treatment for psychoactive substance dependence has peculiar characteristics in terms of therapeutic approaches available to addicts in general. A smaller number of women seek specialist treatment in comparison with men. Traditionally, most health care services specializing in chemical dependence provide similar therapies to both men or women, including the use of mixed-sex groups at some facilities. OBJECTIVE: To discuss the views or psychological meanings attributed by women with substance use disorders to phenomena associated with adherence to treatment at a specialist university outpatient clinic. METHODS: The qualitative-clinical method was used, i.e., an approach characterized by the typically qualitative focus of human sciences adapted to health care settings. The semi-structured interview technique with open questions was used for data collection, combined with observation of the women interviewed. Data were processed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Three categories of treatment outcomes emerged: 1) significant motivations to seek and follow the treatment proposed; 2) symbolic meanings attributed to the drug; 3) psychological representations of lack of motivation to explain difficulties adhering to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the motivations of addicted women to seek treatment vary, but highlight the fact that the substance used becomes perceived as something that causes significant losses and hinders the proper exercise of women's role in family and social contexts. A warm welcoming is considered essential for a patient to adhere to treatment, offsetting the strong physical pleasure associated with psychoactive substance use.INTRODUÇÃO: Na população feminina, a adesão a tratamentos clínicos especializados em dependência de substâncias psicoativas tem características peculiares quando se considera as abordagens terapêuticas disponíveis para a população dependente geral. Um número menor de mulheres em comparação a homens procura tratamento especializado. Tradicionalmente, os serviços de atenção a dependentes químicos oferecem terapias semelhantes para homens e mulheres, incluindo grupos mistos em alguns serviços. OBJETIVO: Discutir os significados psicológicos atribuídos por mulheres dependentes de substâncias psicoativas a fenômenos associados à adesão ao tratamento em um ambulatório universitário especializado. MÉTODO: Foi utilizado o método