Challenges in using patient involvement principles in substance use treatment

Background Health professionals are responsible for implementing patient involvement (PI) in the choice of treatment approach. Previous studies within the field of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment have shown positive patient experiences with PI. However, little is known about challenges experienced by health professionals in converting principles of PI into clinical practice. Aims To explore challenges with PI in the treatment of SUD. Method Five health professionals working in a Norwegian institution for inpatient treatment of SUD were included and took part in a semi-structured interview. Data were analysed using a systematic text condensation approach. Results PI in SUD was perceived as challenging due to conceptual unclarities as well as treatment dilemmas that may challenge the notion of PI as a universal and unified ideological foundation of substance use treatment. Conclusions The findings point to a need to critically examine the PI concept and to take a flexible approach in adjusting PI principles to good clinical practice. A framework is launched, allowing the reported challenges in implementing PI in clinical practice to be accepted, acknowledged, and recognized by clinicians as well as by administrators and heads of clinical units.

Automated summary

This study explores challenges with patient involvement (PI) in the treatment of substance use disorder (SUD). The results indicate that PI in SUD is challenging due to conceptual unclarities and treatment dilemmas that may question the universality and unity of PI in substance use treatment. Therefore, there is a need to critically examine the PI concept and adapt PI principles to good clinical practice in a flexible manner.