The Philippine experience on the ‘basic training course for rehabilitation workers on the assessment and management of drug dependence’, 2013–2016

ABSTRACT

Rehabilitation for persons who use drugs in the Philippines is premised on a multidisciplinary team approach to treatment, where delivery of services is collaboratively undertaken by physicians and rehabilitation practitioners. In 2013, a government-academe-civil society collaborative developed a customized training program for nurses, psychologists, social workers and other personnel involved in rehabilitation work. This 10-day accreditation course covered modules on understanding drug dependence, assessment, management of drug abuse and dependence, and drug rehabilitation work. Participants also had the opportunity to handle cases through a practicum. Between 2013 and 2016, eight training sessions were implemented for 252 rehabilitation practitioners from almost all of the Philippines’ administrative regions. A paired-samples t-test showed that there was a significant difference in the pre-test (24.58 ± 4.08) and post-test scores (30.37 ± 4.66) of participants to the training, t(152) = 16.5949, p = <0.0001.

KEYWORDS:

• Training
• rehabilitation practitioners
• nurses
• psychologists
• social workers
• drug dependence
• Philippines

Acknowledgments

The training course described in this paper was developed and implemented with substantive support and contribution from Dr Manuel C. Panopio (President, Philippine College of Addiction Medicine). The team is also indebted to Dr Nina G. Gloriani (College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila), who shepherded the training activity from its inception in 2009 to 2017 in her capacity as Overall Training Course Coordinator. We acknowledge the invaluable guidance provided by current and previous program managers and directors of DDAPTP in the operationalization of the training activity: Director Criselda G. Abesamis, Director Ma. Vilma V. Diez, Dr Jasmin T. Peralta and Dr Ivanhoe C. Escartin. The evaluation team was assisted by Ms Chelseah Denise H. Torres and Ms Kristine Joy L. Tomanan.

Disclosure statement

Most authors (with the exception of PDC) were part of the organizing team and/or training team for the Basic Training Course for Rehabilitation Practitioners on the Assessment and Management of Drug Dependence, which is the subject of this paper.

Statement of authorship

CTA conceptualized the project. CTA, JPG, ECC and LLC designed the evaluation plan. PDC prepared the first draft. CTA finalized the manuscript based on comments from authors and reviewers. All other authors provided data, reviewed results and/or contributed to the report. All authors approved the final version submitted.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carl Abelardo T. Antonio

Dr. Carl Abelardo T. Antonio is faculty in public health in the University of the Philippines Manila, PhD student in the Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and served as one of the facilitators of the training course described in this paper.

Jonathan P. Guevarra

Prof. Jonathan P. Guevarra is faculty in public health in the University of the Philippines Manila, and served as one of the facilitators of the training course described in this paper.

Lolita L. Cavinta

Prof. Lolita L. Cavinta was faculty of public health in the University of the Philippines Manila, and served as coordinator of the training course described in this paper.

Patrik James D. L. Cabrera

Patrik James D.L. Cabrera served as research assistant for the project in the College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila.

Eleanor C. Castillo

Dr. Eleanor C. Castillo is a faculty in public health in the University of the Philippines Manila, and served as one of the facilitators of the training course described in this paper.

Mariano S. Hembra

Dr. Mariano S. Hembra, a psychiatrist, is Chief of Hospital of the Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital, and one of the content experts who conceptualized the training course.

Clara H. Fuderanan

Dr. Clara H. Fuderanan, a psychiatrist, is Training Officer of the Dangerous Drugs Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program of the Department of Health, and one of the content experts who conceptualized the training course.

Ma. Lourdes Reyes-Sare

Ms. Ma. Lourdes Reyes-Sare, a psychologist, is Administrative Officer in the National Center for Mental Health, and served as one of the facilitators of the training course described in this paper.

Salvador Benjamin D. Vista

Dr. Salvador Benjamin S. Vista is an attending psychiatrist in the Philippine General Hospital, and one of the content experts who conceptualized the training course.