Psychological, social, and motivational factors in persons who use drugs

Correlates of motivation for treatment among alcohol service users in Uganda

Purpose

Given the scarce literature on alcohol use disorders (AUD) and their treatment in developing countries, this paper aims to explore motivation levels and their correlates among alcohol service users in two residential treatment centres in Kampala, Uganda. This study how motivation levels of Ugandan alcohol service users compare with those from American studies; and the specific factors affecting internal and external motivation in the Ugandan context.

Design/methodology/approach

The motivation for treatment was measured among 100 individuals entering AUD treatment using the Texas Christian University (TCU) Treatment needs and Motivation scale. The WHOQoL–BREF, Addiction Severity Index–6 and Hopkins Symptoms Check List–37 were used to measure addiction severity, quality of life (QoL) and psychopathology, respectively. Correlates of motivation were identified using linear regression analyses.

Findings

Ugandan service users demonstrated low treatment motivation in the treatment needs a domain. While addiction severity (recent heavy alcohol use) and participating in private treatment were associated with higher internal and external motivation, deterioration in physical and environmental QoL, depressive symptoms and lower education were linked with higher internal motivation.

Research limitations/implications

Different elements affect domains of treatment motivation, requiring attention for clients’ unique needs as influenced by their background, addiction severity, QoL, psychological needs and contextual factors (e.g. treatment setting). Further studies are needed to explore additional correlates of motivation for treatment among alcohol service users in Uganda and to assess the longitudinal impact of motivation on treatment outcomes.

Originality/value

Although motivation has been extensively studied, clinicians are challenged in understanding and explaining motivational dynamics given the multiplicity of factors influencing change-related decisions and behaviours and the diversity in substance-using populations. This need is even bigger in non-Western societies as cultural differences may require differential therapeutic management. This is one of the first studies measuring motivation for AUD treatment in a low-income country and offers insight for understanding motivation dynamics in similar settings.

Validation of Texas Christian University Psychosocial Functioning and Motivation Scales in Iranian Persons Who Use Drugs

BACKGROUND

The psychosocial functioning and motivation scales of the Texas Cristian University (TCU) were translated and validated for the Persons Who Use Drugs (PWUDs).

METHODS

This study was carried out as a methodological research. The scales were translated forward and backward and then, the PWUDs in Kermanshah-based (west of Iran) substance abuse treatment centers in 2019 filled out the scales. Participants included 250 individuals who were selected by convenience sampling method. A demographics form and psychosocial functioning and motivation scales were used to collect data. For data analysis, content validity, face validity, testretest, internal consistency, and construct validity were applied by using exploratory analysis methods in SPSS (v.20) and confirmatory factor analysis in LISREL software.

RESULTS

Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) results were obtained by using the main component analysis and Varimax rotation of three factors (psychological function, social function, treatment motivation). Extracted factors, along with the eigenvalues, attributed variance percentage, and cumulative attributed variances by each factor, by 68.56%, showed a total variance of the questionnaire. Moreover, the fitness indexes of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) of psychological function, social function, and treatment motivation were 0.059, 0.075 and 0.072, respectively. Therefore, the questionnaire fitness was at an acceptable level. The test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.875, and the Cronbachs alpha coefficient for all the components was higher than 0.71.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that psychosocial functioning, motivation scales have good psychometric properties, and they can be used in research and treatment fields.