PREVALENCE OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AMONG PSYCHIATRY PATIENTS IN ARMED FORCES COMPREHENSIVE SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL AT PSYCHIATRY DEPARTMENT

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of substance use disorder among psychiatry patients at psychiatry department of Armed Forces Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Institution based cross sectional study design was used as study design. The target population of the study was inpatient and outpatient clients. Study Participants were selected by using Convenience sampling technique and purposive sampling technique. The respondents of the study were 92 clients of whom 74 were males and 18 females, two nurses and one senior psychiatrist those worked in AFCSH psychiatric department. Substance use disorder questionnaire, social support questionnaire and key informant interview regarding effects of SUDS on consumers and society were used to collect data. This study employed the mixed (quantitative and qualitative) method approach to collect and analyze data. Descriptive statistic tests like frequency, percentage, table and figure were employed to analyze and present the quantitative data and thematic analysis method was used for that of qualitative one. The finding of the study indicated that the prevalence of substance use disorder among respondents is (58.7%). The most commonly used substances among study respondents were tobacco, alcohol and khat that account about 40.74% of total substances. Most of patients have opportunity to get social support from others (friends/dorm-mates) if they face personal problems. The results of qualitative data revealed that SUDs impact the social functioning of individuals and create a burden for society as whole. Finally, a further research is recommended in order to examine the mechanisms that help to manage substance use disorders among psychiatry patients.