Citation

Lin CC, Tsai YF, Yeh WL, Kao JT, Chen CY. BMC Psychiatry 2017; 17(1): e189.

Affiliation

College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/s12888-017-1348-5

PMID

28521730

PMCID

PMC5437516

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Excessive alcohol use has been associated with health, social and legal problems. Alcohol-related problems have been studied primarily in problem-drinker patients, with few studies on their family members, particularly about their own hazardous or harmful alcohol-drinking behaviours.

METHOD: In this qualitative descriptive study, participants were recruited from three hospitals randomly selected from northern and central Taiwan (2:1). Hazardous-drinker patients and their family members were screened using the Chinese version Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (scores ≥8 indicate harmful or hazardous drinkers). Data were collected in individual, audiotaped, in-depth interviews using an interview guide. Verbatim interview transcripts were analysed using ATLAS.ti, version WIN 7.0.

RESULTS: The sample of 35 family members with hazardous or harmful drinking behaviours perceived that their own alcohol-drinking behaviours were related to six major patterns: family habits, leisure activities with friends, work pressures, personal taste, a way to forget one's problems and to express happiness.

CONCLUSION: We recommend that programmes targeting harmful or hazardous drinking among problem-drinker patients' family members should educate participants about the standard amounts of alcohol in alcoholic beverages, recommended amounts of alcohol consumption for males and females, the long-term effects of excessive alcohol consumption; address sources of risk factors at work; offer strategies to resist social pressures to drink; and build positive strategies for coping with stress.

Language: en

Keywords

Alcohol; Drinking behaviours; Family members; Hazardous drinker