Abstract
In this column, addiction nurses are introduced to basic, brief methods of policy analysis and evaluation that can be used to quickly determine whether policies and programs are achieving, or are likely to achieve, their intended outcomes. A particular focus is on whether the outcomes are likely to be attributed to the policy(ies) of interest, or rather to some other exogenous factors that may somehow influence those outcomes. Since the theme of this issue of the Journal of Addictions Nursing is “women and co-occurring disorders” (COD), and a growing body of research evidence supports the provision of “integrated” services for individuals with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders, treatment integration was selected as an example for policy analysis and evaluation. The Geelhoed-Schouwstra framework (GSF) (Citation) was utilized to demonstrate how numerous influences can potentially affect policy outcomes. These include conceptual-level influences, such as perception of unmet need for mental health care, personal histories of trauma, and the role of intimate partners. Institutional-level influences include funding trends and involvement in domestic violence or child welfare programs. The influences associated with integrated treatment policies are addressed, but actual performance indicator data (input, process, throughput and output data) are not presented. The aim of this column is to demonstrate how nurses and policy-makers can utilize systematic models of policy analysis and evaluation to evaluate how health policies affect service delivery, patient outcomes and nursing practice.
Keywords:
- Addictions nursing
- Comprehensive
- Continuous
- Integrated System of Care (CCISC)
- Conceptual framework
- Co-occurring disorders (COD)
- Co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders
- Explanatory model for policy analysis
- Geelhoed-Schouwstra framework
- Institutional framework
- Integrated treatment
- Nursing
- Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
- Policy planning and analysis
- Women with co-occurring disorders