Study on Roles of Public Health Nurses in the development of Drug-related Services at Public Health Centers

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the specific roles of public health nurses engaged in drug-related services at health centers. The concern with drug abuse or drug dependence has been growing. Data were gathered by semi-structured interviews from 5 public health nurses serving 4 health centers in Tokyo. The roles of public health nurses in drug-related services were: (1) to find problems such as the possibility of a hidden drug problem in difficult-to-resolve cases, (2) to collect information to understand problems based on the accumulation of consultation cases and topics perceived by individuals involved in district public health services, (3) to coordinate the integration and implementation of drug-related services with adolescent services, (4) to network through the liaison of supporters, individuals who recovered from drug dependency and self-help groups, (5) to introduce the perspective of prevention, such as perceiving the importance of fostering a mentality from childhood, so that individuals do not fall into health problems with drugs, and (6) to link hidden drug cases to early-stage counseling. The need for experience and sensitivity, such as skilled assessment ability and determination based on a broad range of perspectives, was suggested for the roles of public health nurses in drug-related services based on that content.