Perceptions of Psychiatric Nurses on Substance Use Relapse Prevention Among the Youth- An Exploratory Qualitative Study.
Wada Gaolaolwe, Miriam Mmamphamo Moagi, Gaotswake Patience Kovane and 1 others
PMID 42093090WHAT IT FOUND
Psychiatric nurses attributed youth relapse to psychological avoidance, family stigma, and easy drug access.
They recommended continuity of care via case managers, halfway homes, and community education to reduce stigma and boredom.
Key findings
01Relapse was perceived as driven by psychological avoidance of underlying problems, family stigma and rejection, and societal factors like drug availability and lack of recreational opportunities.
02Prevention strategies identified included individual commitment and coping skills, community-based occupational therapy and education, and healthcare improvements like case management and halfway homes.
03Nurses highlighted that discharging patients to the same environment where substance use began, without adequate follow-up or specialized rehabilitation resources, impedes recovery.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Qualitative design means findings are not generalizable to other populations or settings. Data was collected from a single psychiatric hospital in Botswana, limiting transferability to other cultural or healthcare contexts. Participants were exclusively psychiatric nurses, so the perspectives of patients, families, or other healthcare providers were not included.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The work was supported by North-West University.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat these nurses' perceptions as evidence that specific interventions like halfway homes or case management reduce relapse rates. The study describes what nurses believe is needed; it does not test whether these strategies actually work.