The design and implementation of brief interventions for carers of people diagnosed with substance use disorder : a harm reduction perspective

Abstract

In his thesis, The design and implementation of brief interventions for carers of people diagnosed with substance use disorder: A harm reduction perspective, the candidate used applied research, specifically intervention research, to develop and pilot test an intervention to enhance carers’ coping self-efficacy in order to assist them to better cope with the harms associated with SUD. To conceptually frame this thesis, the candidate used the harm reduction perspective supplemented by the biopsychosocial perspective to assess and address the harms associated with SUD that carers of people with SUD (PwSUD carers) are challenged with. The key results of a pre-experimental, small-scale study of this intervention found that the Care4Carers Programme improved PwSUD carers coping self-efficacy (their belief in their coping abilities) and their capacity to implement adaptive coping strategies that could improve their physical, mental, and social wellbeing.