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Perceptions of substance abuse counsellors on the implementation of evidence-based practice interventions
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867614092461604864 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Bingham, Kenneth |
| author2 | Slabbert, Ilze |
| author_browse | Bingham, Kenneth Slabbert, Ilze |
| author_facet | Slabbert, Ilze Bingham, Kenneth |
| author_sort | Bingham, Kenneth |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131579 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:32.674Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131579 Perceptions of substance abuse counsellors on the implementation of evidence-based practice interventions Bingham, Kenneth Slabbert, Ilze Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work. Counselor and client Substance abuse -- Patients -- Counseling of Drug abuse counseling Substance abuse -- Treatment Evidence-based medicine UCTD Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The global surge in substance abuse and its far-reaching societal consequences has prompted urgent responses on international, national, and local levels. This study delves into these efforts, as well as the policies, procedures, and legislation implemented in South Africa to combat the alarming trend of addiction. A significant aspect of this endeavour is to reduce the demand for substances through interventions based on scientific validity. The research explores relevant evidence-based approaches, which provide context for the primary goal of understanding how substance abuse counsellors in the Western Cape perceive the implementation of evidence-based practices across a continuum of care. The study also investigates factors that may influence the adoption of such practices. A qualitative study was conducted to collect the necessary data, which included semi-structured interviews with 15 substance abuse counsellors chosen through purposive sampling. Among these participants, 11 were registered social workers, while the remaining four were registered counsellors. They represented various sectors, including inpatient, outpatient, community-based services, and private practice. The data was analysed using reflexive thematic data analysis to identify key themes related to the study's objectives. Differences exist between participants in terms of intervention choices, but they generally align with evidence-based theories endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (2020). While some participants had experience with more structured approaches, the majority felt that overly rigid programmes could stifle counsellors’ ability to provide needs-based services. The matrix programme, which is used by several treatment facilities in the Western Cape, has had a remarkable influence on some programmes outside of the specific designated sites where it is officially used. The research highlighted the programme's perceived strengths and weaknesses. To ensure needs-based services, counsellors mostly preferred the flexibility to integrate various theories within a structured framework. Various dynamics involving service users, such as disengaged families, individuals with comorbid mental health issues and those with cognitive challenges, added intricacy to interventions. The study revealed that aftercare and support groups in the Western Cape were not yet optimal, and some participants claimed that additional treatment centres with longer programmes were needed. Most participants experienced that the Department of Social Development, a primary funder, focused on measuring client access to services but lacked effective mechanisms to assess other relevant indicators such as long-term sobriety of service users. The study recommends the establishment of appropriate measurement tools to address this gap. It also emphasised the importance of service providers to be accountable in aligning their services with updated research findings, as well as dedicating time and resources to ongoing training and capacity building for counsellors in line with evidence-based principles. Furthermore, the study advocates for improved collaboration between government departments, which could facilitate more effective interactions, joint efforts, and accessible referral pathways on ground level operations. It also recommended enhanced integration between relevant stakeholders and treatment centres to foster the exchange of information and best practices. This could contribute to the continued advancement of substance abuse services in the Western Cape, with the ultimate goal of benefiting service users and reducing the demand for substances. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die wêreldwye toename in misbruik van middels en die verreikende maatskaplike gevolge daarvan het dringende reaksies op internasionale, nasionale en plaaslike vlak geïnisieer. Hierdie studie ondersoek hierdie pogings, asook die beleid, prosedures en wetgewing wat in Suid-Afrika geïmplementeer is om die ontstellende tendens van verslawing te bekamp. 'n Beduidende aspek van hierdie inisiatief is om die aanvraag vir stowwe deur ingrypings gebaseer op wetenskaplike geldigheid te verminder. Die navorsing verken relevante bewysgebaseerde benaderings wat konteks bied vir die primêre doel om te verstaan hoe middelafhanklikheidberaders in die Wes-Kaap die implementering van bewysgebaseerde praktyke oor 'n kontinuum van sorg beleef. Die studie ondersoek ook faktore wat die aanvaarding van sulke praktyke mag beïnvloed.'n Kwalitatiewe studie is uitgevoer om die nodige data te versamel, wat semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met 15 middelafhanklikheidberaders wat deur doelbewuste steekproefneming gekies is, ingesluit het. Van hierdie deelnemers was 11 geregistreerde maatskaplike werkers, terwyl die oorblywende vier geregistreerde beraders was. Hulle het verskeie sektore verteenwoordig, insluitend interne, buitepasiënte, gemeenskapsgebaseerde dienste en privaatpraktyke. Die data is geanaliseer met behulp van reflektiewe tematiese data-analise om sleuteltemas wat verband hou met die doelstellings van die studie te identifiseer. Daar is verskille tussen deelnemers met betrekking tot die keuse van ingrypings, maar hulle stem oor die algemeen ooreen met bewysgebaseerde teorieë wat deur die Wêreld Gerondheid Organisasie (WGO) en die Kantoor van die Verenigde Nasies vir Dwelms en Misdaad (UNODC) goedgekeur is. Hoewel sommige deelnemers ondervinding gehad het met meer gestruktureerde benaderings, het die meerderheid gevoel dat oormatige rigiede programmeme beraders se vermoë om op behoeftes-gebaseerde dienste te lewer, kan versmoor. Die Matriks-programme, wat deur verskeie behandelingsfasiliteite in die Wes-Kaap gebruik word, het 'n merkwaardige invloed op sommige programmeme buite die spesifieke aangewese plekke waar dit amptelik gebruik word. Die navorsing het die waargenome sterktes en swakheid van die programme beklemtoon. Om aan behoefte-gebaseerde dienste te verseker, het beraders meestal die buigsaamheid verkies om verskeie teorieë binne 'n gestruktureerde raamwerk te integreer. Verskeie dinamika wat betrekking het op diensgebruikers, soos nie-betrokke gesinne, individue met komorbiede geestesgesondheidsprobleme en dié met kognitiewe uitdagings, het die ingrypings gekompliseer. Die studie het aan die lig gebring dat nasorg- en ondersteuningsgroepe in die Wes-Kaap nog nie optimaal is nie, en sommige deelnemers het beweer dat daar behoefte is aan addisionele behandelingsentrums met langer programmeme. Die meeste deelnemers het ervaar dat die Departement van Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling, 'n primêre befondsers, gefokus het op die meet van kliënttoegang tot dienste, maar nie doeltreffende meganismes gehad het om ander relevante aanwysers, soos langtermyn-nugterheid van diensgebruikers, te assesseer nie. Die studie beveel die vestiging van toepaslike meetinstrumente aan om hierdie gaping aan te spreek. Dit het ook die belangrikheid beklemtoon dat diensverskaffers aanspreeklik moet wees om hul dienste in lyn met opgedateerde navorsingsbevindinge te stel, asook om tyd en hulpbronne te wy aan voortgesette opleiding en kapasiteitsbou vir beraders in lyn met bewysgebaseerde beginsels. Verder bepleit die studie 'n verbeterde samewerking tussen regeringsdepartemente, wat meer doeltreffende interaksies, saamwerkingspogings en toeganklike verwysingsroetes op grondvlak-operasies kan fasiliteer. Dit beveel ook 'n versterkte integrasie tussen relevante belanghebbendes en behandelingsentrums aan om die uitruil van inligting en beste praktyke te bevorder. Dit kan bydra tot die voortgesette bevordering van middelafhanklikheidberaders in die Wes-Kaap, met die uiteindelike doel om diensgebruikers te bevoordeel en die aanvraag vir stowwe te verminder. Masters 2025-01-28T06:54:20Z 2025-01-28T06:54:20Z 2024-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131579 en Stellenbosch University 218 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Counselor and client Substance abuse -- Patients -- Counseling of Drug abuse counseling Substance abuse -- Treatment Evidence-based medicine UCTD Bingham, Kenneth Perceptions of substance abuse counsellors on the implementation of evidence-based practice interventions |
| title | Perceptions of substance abuse counsellors on the implementation of evidence-based practice interventions |
| title_full | Perceptions of substance abuse counsellors on the implementation of evidence-based practice interventions |
| title_fullStr | Perceptions of substance abuse counsellors on the implementation of evidence-based practice interventions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceptions of substance abuse counsellors on the implementation of evidence-based practice interventions |
| title_short | Perceptions of substance abuse counsellors on the implementation of evidence-based practice interventions |
| title_sort | perceptions of substance abuse counsellors on the implementation of evidence based practice interventions |
| topic | Counselor and client Substance abuse -- Patients -- Counseling of Drug abuse counseling Substance abuse -- Treatment Evidence-based medicine UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131579 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT binghamkenneth perceptionsofsubstanceabusecounsellorsontheimplementationofevidencebasedpracticeinterventions |