Alcohol consumption patterns among parents of hospitalized children: findings from a brief intervention study

摘要

Aims: This study aimed to explore parents’ perception and experience of a brief intervention (BI), focusingon their alcohol consumption habits to assess the impact on parents of staff members using motivationalinterviewing (MI) and to gain knowledge of how to reinforce initiatives regarding behavioural changes oflifestyle problems in a clinical setting.Background: Substantial parental alcohol consumption influences children’s development negatively. Nursingstaff lacks knowledge and training in communicating with parents about alcohol issues. Little is known aboutparents’ attitudes towards, and perception of, nursing staff addressing issues concerning their use of alcohol.Methods: A qualitative approach by use of phenomenological and hermeneutic methods was applied.Through interviews with 15 parents, their opinions and perceptions of a brief alcohol intervention wereexplored.Results: Three themes emerged from the phenomenological reduction: (1) experiencing respect and genuineinterest from the nursing staff, (2) BI causing reflections on own use of alcohol, and (3) reflections continuingand developing over time.Conclusion and practice implications: The parents did not mind having their lifestyle habits discussed inconnection with having their child admitted to hospital. The method MI proved effective in getting theparents to talk about and reflect on alcohol consumption habits. The effects of the intervention seemed to lastbeyond the first months after the intervention took place.