Implementation of user organizations in Swedish health care and social services for persons with substance use disorders

Abstract

Background: In Sweden, the National Guidelines for Substance Abuse Treatment includes new recommendations concerning integrating a user perspective. From 2009 to 2014, the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare supported and financed the development of organizations serving regional users. The programme was evaluated, and the results showed a development of user influence in substance use treatment services in 20 out of 21 regions by 2014. The implementation of user organizations' influence was evaluated in 2018 for this follow-up study. Aim: The aim of this four-year follow-up study was to evaluate whether user organizations continued existing once national support ended, and whether their influence in social services and health care, at both organizational and individual levels had been implemented. Method: A questionnaire was dispatched to 20 regional user organizations. It included information and questions focused on their situation, and on participants' experiences of the influence of user organizations in health care and social service. Results: The results obtained from the questionnaire show that 14 out of 20 user organizations still existed and reported a developed influence in social services and health care at organizational and individual levels. National support was perceived as necessary for the ongoing development of user organizations and to continue increasing their influence. Conclusions: Support at the national level initiated the development of user influence in Sweden, which has increased at both organizational and individual levels in the context of social services, as well as in health care for persons with substance use disorders.

Differences in Ethical Viewpoints among Civilian–Military Populations: A Survey among Practitioners in Two European Countries, Based on a Systematic Literature Review

“…The statistically significant differences in scenario one concerning both two organizations and nations and the way females and males may influence ethical decision-making may reflect the cultural and traditional differences between the two nations. The more horizontal and transparent organizational structure in Sweden as well as the fact that Sweden has been at peace for over 100 years may play a crucial role [2,6,73].…”

“…These differences are equally prominent between Polish females and males. Such diversity may be due to the consensus culture and the horizontal organizational structure as well as gender equality in Sweden [2,11,73,74]. Scenario 3 aimed at testing the line of order and the fact that decisions should be made for the best of the most.…”

“…The differences between the two nations are statistically significant with the Swedish cohort not following the order. While differences between civilian and military organizations could be expected, there were equally evident differences between Polish females and males [70,[73][74][75]. A vertical organization would likely find it easier to implement the orders [2], while a horizontal structure requires more reasoning and discussion.…”