https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1689-6895
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Abstract
Background
Drug addiction can lead to suicidal ideation or suicide attempt so that half of those who attempt suicide have a history of substance abuse. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of educational intervention based on Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) on reducing suicidal ideation and suicide attempt of addicts.
Methods
A longitudinal quasi-experimental educational intervention was conducted on 200 methadone-treated addicts with suicidal ideation under the auspices of government addiction centers of Shiraz city from 2021 to 2022. Baseline data on demographic characteristics, suicidal ideation, and TPB questionnaire were collected from two groups at the beginning of the study and then three months after the intervention. The experiment group received educational intervention including sessions of individual and group counseling, training and organizational supports. The questionnaire was completed by both the experimental and control groups before the educational intervention and three months after the educational intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software through independent t-test, Chi-square and paired t-test (p = 0.05).
Results
The mean age of addicts in the experimental and control groups was 38.80 ± 11.64 and 39.41 ± 11.18 years, respectively (p = 0.206). 22% of the experimental group and 18% of the control group had a history of suicide. According to the results, there was no significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of knowledge, attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control before the educational intervention, however, the mentioned variables increased significantly in the experimental group three months after the educational intervention. There was no significant difference in suicide attempt and suicidal ideation between the experimental and control groups before the educational intervention, however, there was a significant change in the experimental group after the educational intervention.
Conclusion
The results of the present study showed the effect of educational intervention on the knowledge, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, suicidal ideation and suicidal attempt of addicts, thus confirming the effectiveness of the TPB-based intervention on reducing suicide of addicts.
Acknowledgements
We express appreciation to the participants in this study and the staff of the private and public clinics for their valuable help.
Ethical approval
The study procedures were carried out following the Declaration of Helsinki.
Informed consent
Informed consent was taken from all the participants. For illiterate people, the text of the consent form was read to them and their fingerprints were recorded. There was an emphasis on maintaining privacy in keeping and delivering the information accurately without mentioning the names of the participants. The participants were given the right to leave the interview at any time if they wished to leave the interview process, and they were promised to have the study results if they want. This consent procedure is approved by “ethics committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (IR.SUMS.REC.1400.222).”
Authors’ contributions
SN, FR, RSh, PAH and AKHJ conceived and designed the study. FR and AKHJ analyzed and interpreted the data, and drafted the manuscript. SN, FR, RSh, PAH and AKHJ were involved in the composition of the study tool, supervision of the research process and critical revision and review of the manuscript. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data availability statement
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study can be made available by the corresponding author on reasonable request.