How Does Stakeholder Engagement Influence Patient Recovery From Substance Use Disorder? A Case Study of Drug Rehabilitation Project

Abstract

The focus of this study is to examine the impact of ‘Stakeholder Engagement on patient recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). It is a case study of a substance use disorder (SUD) Rehabilitation Project in Lahore, Punjab Pakistan. To gain a deep understanding of the phenomenon the study deployed a qualitative research approach because the objective of the study is not to yield generalizable findings through numeric data collection from a large sample. AAS Trust is a case organization, and its completely treated patients (who passed through all the treatment phases) are the population of the study. Fifteen in-depth interviews (including patients, their families, representatives of the Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and officials of the AAS Trust) were conducted during the data collection process. The participants were approached through the convenient snowball sampling method. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, field notes, and documentary analyses who argued to be effective to collect in-depth qualitative data. An interview guide has been developed initially to organize, conduct, and structure the interviews by considering the complexity of the phenomena with its essential structure and techniques. Questions about stakeholders' engagement in treatment phases were developed in the guide. The grounded theory method is operated systematically for data analysis. Data collection and analysis were carried out simultaneously after systematic combining to take into account new themes related to the phenomenon under study. The study pursues the ethical principles offered by Patton (2008). Based on the data analysis findings from the current qualitative case study are presented in two core categories first, the patient’s support system’ in this core category the process of support system formation and the role of key stakeholders in the support system are discussed one by one with the evidence presented from several interviews. The second core category is ‘patient recovery from substance use disorder’ this core category is further divided into three sub-categories, self-directed motivation, integrated efforts of support ix system in the treatment phase, and integrated efforts of support system in the aftercare/recovery phase. In each sub-category of the second core category, the role of the support system is presented with evidence from several interviews. The results from findings show that stakeholders’ engagement in substance use disorder treatment has a positive impact on the patient’s recovery. In the admission phase, the family of the patient is the most influential stakeholder in initiating the admission of the patient to a Rehabilitation Centre. The self-directed motivation of the patient is the second most influential element in this phase. The officials of the treatment center are the third most influential stakeholder to a patient in the decision-making process to initiate treatment of substance use disorder (SUD). The environment of the rehabilitation center is also an influencing element in the admission process. In the treatment phase, the officials (employees) of the rehabilitation center and the peers of the treatment are the most influential stakeholders as evidenced in the interviews of the participants. The environment of the rehabilitation Centre has also a prominent influence on the treatment of a patient. The family of the patient is the second most influential stakeholder in the treatment phase. In the third phase of the aftercare/recovery phase, the fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and the family of the patient are the most influential stakeholder. The institute and/or rehabilitation center and the officials (employees) are the second most influential stakeholder in the aftercare/recovery phase. The peer group of recovery fellows is the third influential stakeholder in the aftercare phase. The theoretical contributions of this study to the existing literature are three; first, ‘the support system’ comprises key stakeholders has a positive impact on a patient’s recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). Second, treatment phases are interconnected productivity of phase based on the successful completion of the other. Third, the peer groups i.e., NA/Recovery fellows have a positive impact on patients’ recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). Moreover, very limited literature on this particular area ‘impact on stakeholders’ engagement in SUD is available in the existing literature, one qualitative study has been conducted before by Alderson, H.; Kaner, E.; et all, 2022, “A Qualitative Exploration of Stakeholder Involvement in Decision-Making for Alcohol Treatment and Prevention Services” but the study only tested one aspect of substance use x disorder treatment i.e., ‘stakeholder involvement in Decision-making for alcohol treatment’ the focus of the current study is to examine the impact of stakeholders engaged in the whole treatment of SUD including recovery phase.