Attitudes of Registered Nurses toward Alcoholic Patients in a General Hospital Population

Abstract

The Marcus Alcoholism Questionnaire was administered to 66 registered nurses at a community hospital to ascertain their attitudes regarding alcoholic patients in a general hospital population. This was done to provide documentation on what nurses attitudes actually are as opposed to making an assumption about what they should be because of the high visibility of the problem of alcoholism. The author reports the results of the study and then contrasts them with information about registered nurses attitudes toward alcoholic patients at a university hospital. The article concludes with insight into contributing factors for the differences.

Alcoholism: The Self-Reinforcing Feedback Loop

“…In this study, none of the participants reported receiving drug and alcohol training (Crothers & Dorrian, 2011). In contrast, in a study in a small community hospital with a specialised inpatient drug and alcohol program, nurses reported positive attitudes to working with drinkers (Allen, 1993). Indeed, similar to studies in doctors, nursing studies have consistently indicated gaps and opportunities for training in the identification, treatment and ongoing support of patients with alcohol-related issues (Anderson, Eadie, MacKintosh, & Haw, 2001;Owens, Gilmore, & Pirmohamed, 2000).…”

“…Studies yield expressions of interest from nursing staff in working more in this area, and requests for more training (Anderson et al, 2001;Owens et al, 2000). This is clearly an important area for development, since education results in more positive attitudes to care (Allen, 1993;Geirsson et al, 2005).…”

Atitudes de enfermeiros frente as habilidades de identificação para ajudar o paciente alcoolista

“…Fato que não se observa na literatura internacional em que os estudos datam de mais de três décadas (8) . Estudo (10) objetivando identificar as atitudes de enfermeiras de um hospital norte americano, evidenciou que as mesmas acreditavam que: fatores emocionais são importantes causas do alcoolismo; o alcoolista é incapaz de controlar sua ingestão alcoólica; bebedores sociais podem ser alcoolistas, e que o álcool é capaz de causar dependência. Esses mesmos enfermeiros estavam ainda menos dispostos a crer que: o alcoolista não quer se recuperar e que são pessoas fracas.…”

Atitudes e conhecimentos de enfermeiros frente ao álcool, alcoolismo e alcoolista: estudo comparativo entre dois grupos

“…Esses estudos evidenciaram, que o estereótipo atribuído ao alcoolismo e ao alcoolista influencia diretamente nas atitudes dos profissionais enfermeiros (Wallston, Wallston, De Velli, 1976;Cornish, Miller, 1976) (Gross, Lismam, 1979 (Allen, 1993), pela primeira vez, os fatores apontados pelos enfermeiros, como causas importantes do controle do uso de álcool pelos usuários foram o aumento do conhecimento e a mudança de atitudes positivas nos profissionais (Hegemaster et al, 1993;Gerace, Hughes, Spunt, 1995) para trabalhar com pacientes não alcoolistas (Grief, Elliott, 1994) e a discriminização do usuário de álcool (Krueger, 1995).…”