Psychoeducation impact for family members of substance users: An evaluation the workbook “Addiction: A Family Disease”

ABSTRACT

Background

In countries such as Malaysia, extended families are common and therefore more people are affected when a loved one is substance dependent. Interventions for family members are as equally important as treating the substance-dependent person in order to ensure holistic treatment is achieved. This study focuses on evaluating a workbook developed for family members of loved ones seeking treatment in a private residential treatment facility in Malaysia.

Methods: This evaluation study employs a mixed methodology approach guided by the Kirkpatrick model. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with family members using the workbook, triangulating findings with results from pre-and post-intervention questionnaires.

Results: Findings from the evaluations were observed at three levels of the Kirkpatrick model: reaction to program – participants revealed high satisfaction levels; learning achieved – an increase in knowledge; behavior – knowledge acquired on a disease model of addiction impacting on their belief system.

Conclusions: Findings from this study suggest that creating awareness among affected family members on the impact of substance dependency on the family dynamics can empower a substance user’s significant others and engender hope and realistic beliefs, and that employing a culturally appropriate workbook effectively supports the psychoeducation element of a family intervention program.

KEYWORDS:

• Substance dependency
• family
• evaluation study
• workbooks
• psychoeducation

Acknowledgments

This work is not supported by any grant.