EFFECT OF NURSING INTERVENTION PROGRAM ON ENHANCING EXPRESSED EMOTION AMONG FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF PATIENTS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.
Main Article Content
Keywords
Criticism, Emotional over-involvement, Hostility, Knowledge, Relapse.
Abstract
Introduction: Substance use disorder is a chronic disease. Caregiving for patients with substance use disorder places significant strains on caregivers causing a high level of expressed emotions, which recognized as a risk factor for exacerbation and relapse. Aim: To evaluate the effect of nursing intervention program for enhancing expressed emotion among family caregivers of patients with substance use disorders. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was utilized. The study was conducted in the in-patient addiction unit at Al-Abbasia Mental Health Hospital. A purposive sample of 45 family caregivers was selected according to certain inclusion criteria. Socio-demographic Data of Family Caregivers, Caregiver’s knowledge regarding substance use disorder and the expressed emotion scale were used for data collection. Results: Pre-intervention, 73.3% of caregivers had unsatisfactory knowledge, which improved to 86.7% post-intervention. Significant reductions in expressed emotions were observed, with hostility levels decreasing from 77.8% to 68.8%, criticism from 73.3% to 66.7%, and emotional over-involvement from 75.6% to 71.1%. Overall, 71.1% of caregivers had high levels of expressed emotions pre-intervention, which dropped to 73.3% reporting low levels post-intervention. Total knowledge level and expressed emotions were negatively correlated post-intervention (r = -0.114, p = 0.037). These findings underscore the effectiveness of nursing interventions in improving caregiver knowledge and expressed emotion. Conclusion: The nursing intervention program significantly improved family caregivers' knowledge and reduced expressed emotions, including hostility, criticism, and emotional over-involvement. This highlights the critical role of targeted educational and emotional support programs in enhancing caregivers' capacity to manage patients with substance use disorders effectively.