The lived experiences of families of an adult community-dwelling person who uses drugs: a qualitative systematic review protocol.

Abstract

The objective of this review is to identify, appraise, and synthesize available evidence related to the lived experiences of families with an adult community-dwelling person who uses drugs. The stigma experience of persons who use drugs is documented in the literature, yet little is known about the families' lived experience with a loved one who uses drugs. While often identified as an important adjunct to treatment, evidence regarding the families' lived experiences relevant to their psychosocial, physical, mental, and family health needs has received less attention. The stigma, as well as other experiences associated with a family member's substance use, warrants further investigation. This review seeks to understand the lived experiences of families with an adult community-dwelling person who uses drugs as documented within the literature. Studies published in English that include families of an adult community-dwelling person who uses drugs, from any race or geographical location, and that focus on qualitative data including, but not limited to, designs such as phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, action research, and feminist research will be included in the review. Information sources to be searched are CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, MedNar, and Scopus. A three-step search strategy will be undertaken. Included studies will be assessed for methodological quality independently by two reviewers, and findings will be extracted and synthesized. PROSPERO CRD42020175645.