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Effective Interventions Unit
An exploration of the role of substance misuse nurses in Scotland

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Catriona I Matheson Christine M Bond Karen A Inkster Edwin R van Teijlingen* Fiona A Wardell
Isobel M Cameron Thane Lawrie Grahame Cronkshaw** John Forest***

Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Aberdeen
*Department of Public Health, University of Aberdeen
**NHS Grampian
***Substance Misuse Service, Royal Cornhill Hospital
October 2004

Contents

Remit and Dissemination Policy
Executive summary
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Methods
Chapter 3: Characteristics of nurses and services
Chapter 4: Motivation, attitudes and beliefs
Chapter 5: The initial assessment of clients
Chapter 6: Making treatment decisions
Chapter 7: Multidisciplinary working
Chapter 8: Health and safety at work
Chapter 9: Discussion and recommendations
Appendix 1: Questionnaire
Appendix 2: Interview schedule
Appendix 3: Observational checklist
Appendix 4: Further questionnaire data
Appendix 5: Further observational notes
References and Web Links:

List of Tables
Table 1: Number of services and nurses identified in each NHS area
Table 2: Nurses interviewed in each NHS area
Table 3: Demography
Table 4: Nursing grade and qualification s of respondents
Table 5: Motivation to work with drug misusers
Table 6: Nurse and pharmacist attitudes to drug misusers and treatment approach
Table 7: Factors influencing treatment of drug dependency
Table 8: Information sources consulted in forming a treatment plan 28
Table 9: Nurses' and GPs' beliefs about the effectiveness of treatment and the organisation of services
Table 10: Interaction with health and social care professionals
Table 11: Location of patient/client contact

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Effective Interventions Unit for supporting this project, Drug Development Officers and Drug Service Administrative staff across Scotland who provided details of services and staff and, most importantly, all the Substance Misuse Nurses who took the time to complete a questionnaire and/or conduct an interview. Finally the research team would like to thank service users who allowed their consultation to be observed.

For further details of this study contact the research team:
Dr Catriona Matheson,
Department of Primary Care and General Practice,
Foresterhill Health Centre,
University of Aberdeen
E mail: c.i.math@abdn.ac.uk or telephone: 01224 554490

The views expressed in this report are those of the researchers and do not necessarily represent those of the Department or Scottish Ministers.

Scottish Executive Drug Misuse Research Programme

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