A study to assess the insight and motivation towards quitting alcohol among patients with gastrointestinal and hepatological conditions

Abstract

Alcoholic beverages have been a part of social life for thousands of years, yet societies have always found it difficult to restrain its use. Alcohol dependence syndrome and alcohol abuse are the dreaded alcohol-related morbidity. In India, 20%–30% of hospital admissions are due to alcohol-related problems, and the burden is rising. Realising the need to seek treatment forms an important bridge between the problem and its solution among those with alcohol-related morbidity. Therefore, a descriptive study was done to assess the insight and level of motivation to quit alcohol consumption among alcoholics affected with gastrointestinal and hepatological conditions admitted in inpatient general ward of a tertiary care hospital. Participants who were enrolled for the study using total enumerative sampling technique were 25. The Readiness to Change Questionnaire developed by Prochaska and DiClemente and the Hanil's Alcohol Insight Scale were used to collect data. The study results showed that 12% were in pre-contemplation stage, 32% were in contemplation stage and 56% were in action stage. About half the proportion of the participants (56%) had fair insight regarding their dependency in alcohol and none had good insight. Poor insight on alcohol as the risk factor of their disease was identified in 44% of the participants. This study highlights the need for an effective education and support programme for individuals with alcohol dependence and alcohol-related morbidity.