Mapping the Alcohol and Other Drug patient journey to improve treatment access and engagement in care

Investigators: Prof Suzanne Nielsen, Dr Tina Lam, Kirsty Morgan, Dr Michael Savic, Heather Pickard, A/Prof Lisa Kuhn, Dr Nadine Andrew, Rob White, Katherine Bendall, Greer Watkins

Alcohol and other drugs (AOD) are involved in 137,000 Australian hospital admissions and 28% of ED injuries. This harm is preventable. Understanding patients’ journeys through health systems can inform more effective delivery of evidence-based treatments. We will use novel approaches to combine big data and qualitative methods, including graphical journey mapping, to comprehensively document the patient journey to identify opportunities for increasing connection to, and retention in AOD care. Findings will inform the implementation and evaluation of targeted interventions to drive changed practice, which can reduce AOD harm for individuals, and reduce related costs for the healthcare system.

Project funder

National Centre for Healthy Aging (NCHA) - Living Labs Program

Project partners

A collaboration between MARC, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Peninsula Health, Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC), Turning Point, Frankston Mornington Peninsula Primary Care Partnership, and Responding to Alcohol and Drugs in the Frankston-Mornington Peninsula (RAD-FMP).

Publications

Francia, L, Lam, T, Berg, A, Morgan, K, Savic, M, Lubman, DI, & Nielsen, S. (2022). Putting out the welcome mat—A qualitative exploration of service delivery processes and procedures as barriers to treatment-seeking for people who use alcohol and other drugs. Drug Alcohol Rev. DOI: 10.1111/dar.13551

Francia, L, Berg, A, Lam, T, Morgan, K & Nielsen, S. (2022). “The peer workers, they get it” – how lived experience expertise strengthens therapeutic alliances and alcohol and other drug treatment-seeking in the hospital setting. Addiction Research & Theory. DOI: 10.1080/16066359.2022.2124245

Francia, L, Lam, T, Berg, A, Morgan, K, Savic, M, Lubman, D, & Nielsen, S. (2023). Alcohol and other drug use: A qualitative exploration of staff and patient's experiences of language use as a means of stigma communication in hospital and primary care settings. Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment. DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.209050

Berg, A, Francia, L, Lam, T, Morgan, K, Lubman, D, & Nielsen, S.  (2023). Enriching qualitative alcohol and other drug research by engaging lived experience peer researchers in a dual-interview approach: A case study. Drug Alcohol Rev. DOI:  10.1111/dar.13724

Policy Recommendations

Improving access to alcohol and other drug care through health and community services: Executive Summary for policy makers

Media

Living Labs: New research findings show stigma around alcohol and other drugs harms a major barrier for patients in their care journey towards ageing well

Outputs

Resources