Washdev, Muhammad Iqbal Afridi.
A survey to determine motivating factors to quit opioids in treatment seekers at a tertiary care hospital.
J Pak Med Assoc Jan ;67(7):1050-3.

Objective: To determine the frequency of different motivating factors to quit opioid use. Methods: The descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, from August 2012 to February 2013, and comprised opioid users. Demographic data was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire whereas motivational factor was assessed through a self-designed proforma. A motivational factor questionnaire was developed after a pilot study. In this questionnaire, different intrinsic and extrinsic factors were categorised into four types, i.e. biological, psychological, social and religious factors. SPSS 17 was used for data analysis. Results: Of the 157 participants, 148(94.3%) were males and 9(5.7%) were females. The overall mean age was 31.83±8.99 years (range: 14-57 years). The mean age of onset of using opioids was 25.79±7.17 years (range: 13-40 years). The mean duration of using opioids was 5.29±3.72 years (range: 1-20 years). Besides, 141(90%) patients were under the age of 45 years. Strong social factors included feeling of inability to care for family among 122(77.7%) participants, embarrassment in society 107(68.2%), and family pressure by parents/ spouse/ children 94(59.9%). Conclusion: Family and social factors were found to be the main source of motivation for a person to quit substance abuse.

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