Family Health Care for Amphetamine-abused Adolescent in Thai Context: Cases Study

Abstract

Kannika Rattaworn and Saovakon Virasiri

Amphetamine abuse has become a major challenge facing Thai society. The cases study was aimed at exploring how nurses provide care for family with amphetamine used teenagers at community hospital setting. The concept of Family healthcare and Family Resiliency were applied. The participants were 5 families with amphetamine-abused teenagers. The study tools comprised of Family Health Care Intervention (FHCI) that included family health assessment, family intervention, and Family Power Handout. Data was collected by in-depth interview, questionnaire, and health examination. Content analysis was used to analyze data. Findings displayed all parents had severe stress. Some fathers had high anger and punished their sons by striking. The adolescent boys had several risks behaviors; delinquency, theft, and video game addiction. Families coped with various methods such as taking sons to ordain. The family system had poor function. The nurses started therapeutic communication with parents and teenagers. Reducing suffering, providing emotional and information support were done. Some mothers were referred to psychiatrist due to severe depression. Family meeting and counselling were used; as well as follow-up, which was done for 4 weeks. Family psychoeducation and modification were conducted. After 4 sessions, family stress was decreased. Family function had adjusted to provide care for the teenagers, which could help them to decrease amphetamine using. Some fathers had seen function change of positive fathering. In summary, the FHCI could provide care for the family as a total unit. However, this situation is very complex, thus, longitudinal study design is needed for monitoring and evaluating the family health outcome.

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