Advancing readiness for change in substance use for people with substance use disorders using the Kawa model based intervention program: A quasi-experimental study.
Han-Yi Hsiao, Tsui-Ying Wang, Chun-Hung Lee and 5 others
PMID 39539406WHAT IT FOUND
A four-week Kawa Model group increased readiness to change drug use compared to lectures, but did not improve self-esteem, craving, or quality of life.
The benefit was limited to motivation, not broader health outcomes.
Key findings
01Participants in the Kawa Model group showed significantly higher post-test scores for contemplation, action, and readiness to change compared to the lecture control group.
02There were no significant differences between the groups in secondary outcomes including self-esteem, craving, or any domain of quality of life.
03The intervention only implemented the first three steps of the six-step Kawa Model due to time constraints, which may explain the lack of health outcome improvements.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was not randomized; participants chose their schedule, which may have introduced selection bias despite similar baseline scores. Only the first three steps of the six-step Kawa Model were implemented due to the eight-hour funding limit, so the full potential of the intervention was not tested. There was no follow-up assessment, so it is unknown if the changes in readiness were maintained over time. The intervention group received four sessions over four weeks, while the control group had one long session, meaning the intervention allowed more time for reflection. All outcomes were self-reported, which is susceptible to social desirability bias.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the Jianan Psychiatric Center.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the increased readiness scores as evidence that the Kawa Model improves health outcomes like craving or quality of life. The study found no significant difference in these areas compared to standard lectures, and the intervention was an abbreviated version of the full model.