Abstract
This poster presents findings from a descriptive, mixed-methods study that examined men’s experiences of substance use disorder treatment routines in a residential behavioral health facility (RBHF) located in a rural, underserved community in Washington State.
Primary Author and Speaker: Jennifer S. Pitonyak
Additional Authors and Speakers: Sean R. Sloppy, Austin Walker
Men generally experience a higher incidence of substance use disorder (SUD) compared with women and are referred for treatment at greater rates; therefore, it’s important to understand men’s experiences in residential behavior health facilities (RBHF). The purpose of this descriptive, cross-sectional, mixed methods study was to examine men’s experience of treatment routines in a RBHF in a rural community. The study was conducted over a 4-week period in July 2024. Convenience sampling was used to recruit men ages 18+, resulting in ten participants (n = 10). Participants completed a semi structured interview guided by the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and AOTA Occupational Profile. COPM scores for occupational importance, performance, and satisfaction were analyzed via descriptive statistics. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the narrative data generated from the interviews. Photographic documentation of the RBHF physical environment in which daily routines occurred was also collected and analyzed. Combined data corroborated routines that participants identified as important for recovery. A structured daily treatment schedule, social participation, and physical exercise were important routines and participants were highly satisfied with performance of these routines. Conversely, spending time with family, spirituality, and sleep hygiene were desired routines that were less accessible in the RBHF, and participants were collectively less satisfied with performance in these areas. Study findings are important for OT practice in RBHFs, suggesting the significance of personal, familial, and spiritual routines for recovery. While structured daily treatment in the RBHF was supportive of the recovery process, routines often lacked familial and spiritual relevancy. OT practitioners can provide routine-based intervention in RBHF settings that is personally and spiritually relevant, to support continued recovery in the community.
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American Occupational Therapy Association. (2022). AOTA Occupational Profile Template. https://www.aota.org/˜/media/Corporate/Files/Practice/Manage/Documentation/AOTA-Occupational-Profile-Template.pdf
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