Abstract
Objective: To determine the impact of a course aimed at the care of persons with drug dependence on the beliefs and intentions of drug use among bachelor nursing students. Materials and methods: A quasi-experimental study conducted with a non-equivalent comparison group composed of 210 Mexican students of both sexes. Two Likert-type instruments were used to measure the beliefs and intentions of drug use, before and after a semester-long course. Results: At the end of the study, a significant interaction was found (F = 3.56, p = 0.050, η2p = 0.025), which suggests a greater decrease in beliefs in favor of drug use among students who took the course on drug addiction. Regarding drug use intentions, a general decrease was observed in the entire sample (F = 10.13, p = 0.002, η2p = 0.059). Conclusions: Courses on the care of drug addiction can have beneficial effects on nursing students by modifying beliefs and intentions to carry out unhealthy behaviors such as the use of substances. These results demand to verify if the effects remain beyond the completion of university education.
Highlights
The use of psychoactive substances —both legal and illegal— represents unhealthy behavior that may have consequences for individual, family and social well-being [1,2]
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [2] points out in its most recent world report that nearly 35,000,000 people suffer from a substance use disorder, and that in 2017 alone, there were 42,000,000 healthy years of life lost due to disability and 585,000 deaths directly related to drug use
In the case of Mexico, the Mexican Federation of Associations of Faculties and Schools of Nursing (FEMAFEE) established some basic guidelines to improve the training of new generations, such as the inclusion of contents on addictions, by means of courses and the development and incorporation of specialization courses on nursing care for persons with drug dependence [7,8]
Summary
The use of psychoactive substances —both legal and illegal— represents unhealthy behavior that may have consequences for individual, family and social well-being [1,2]. It is a growing problem, having become one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide In this regard, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [2] points out in its most recent world report that nearly 35,000,000 people suffer from a substance use disorder, and that in 2017 alone, there were 42,000,000 healthy years of life lost due to disability and 585,000 deaths directly related to drug use. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [2] points out in its most recent world report that nearly 35,000,000 people suffer from a substance use disorder, and that in 2017 alone, there were 42,000,000 healthy years of life lost due to disability and 585,000 deaths directly related to drug use This situation requires that nursing and related sciences professionals adopt actions aimed at its effective incorporation in the fight against addictions, through prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation activities. In the case of Mexico, the Mexican Federation of Associations of Faculties and Schools of Nursing (FEMAFEE) established some basic guidelines to improve the training of new generations, such as the inclusion of contents on addictions, by means of courses and the development and incorporation of specialization courses on nursing care for persons with drug dependence [7,8]
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