The effect of motivational interviewing techniques on treatment motivation and substance use tendency in individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder

This study was conducted to examine the effects of motivational interviewing techniques on treatment motivation and substance use tendency in individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder. The research was conducted in a randomized controlled experimental design. The population of the study consisted of all patients who applied to Malatya Turgut Özal Medical Center psychiatry outpatient clinic between 12 April 2022 and 22 February 2024, who were diagnosed with substance use disorder, were open to communication and cooperation, and met the criteria for inclusion in the study.The sample of the study consisted of 25 control group and 25 experimental group patients diagnosed with substance use disorder who agreed to participate in the research. In collecting data, survey forms consisting of the Personal Information Form, Treatment Motivation Survey (TMA) and Substance Use Tendency Scale (MDAS), prepared by the researchers and containing the demographic characteristics of the participants, were used. Median values, standard deviation, arithmetic mean, minimum and maximum values, Kolmogorow-Smirnov, Shapiro-Wilk tests were used to evaluate the data. The findings of the study showed that the comparative analysis of the pre-test, 21-day follow-up test and post-test mean scores of the control group for treatment motivation and substance use tendency, and the difference between the total mean scores for the sub-item of need for interpersonal help was statistically significant (p<0.05). When the pre-test, 21-day follow-up test and post-test comparisons of the treatment motivation and substance use tendency mean scores of the experimental group were examined, statistically significant differences were found between the score averages of the treatment motivation, intrinsic motivation and interpersonal help-seeking sub-dimensions and the total substance use tendency score (p <0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed between the pretest and 21-day follow-up averages and t-scores of treatment motivation and substance use tendency scores of the experimental and control groups (p<0.05). As a result, it has been determined that motivational interviewing techniques have a positive effect on treatment motivation and a negative effect on the tendency to use substances in individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder.It may be recommended that motivational interviewing techniques be applied to larger sample groups in individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders and that nurses add services to improve motivational interviewing techniques to the holistic care plan. Key Words: motivation, nursing, substance use disorder, substance use tendency, treatment motivation