Biomaterial Database

Therapist attitudes and beliefs relevant to client dropout revisited. 2008

Justin Pulford, and Peter Adams, and Janie Sheridan

School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. justin.pulford@waitematadhb.govt.nz

This study replicates a survey conducted in the 1980s that examined therapist attitudes and beliefs relevant to client dropout. A revamped questionnaire modelled on the original was completed by 92% of therapists employed in the outpatient counselling arm of an alcohol and other drug treatment service. This questionnaire sought therapist perceptions of treatment length and client dropout as well as their preferred length of treatment engagement. Responses were then contrasted with known service attendance norms. As with the previous study, the results suggest therapists typically expect and prefer treatment of a considerably longer duration than the service mean and underestimate the rate of client dropout.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009520	New Zealand	A group of islands in the southwest Pacific. Its capital is Wellington. It was discovered by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1642 and circumnavigated by Cook in 1769. Colonized in 1840 by the New Zealand Company, it became a British crown colony in 1840 until 1907 when colonial status was terminated. New Zealand is a partly anglicized form of the original Dutch name Nieuw Zeeland, new sea land, possibly with reference to the Dutch province of Zeeland. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p842 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p378)
D010352	Patient Dropouts	Discontinuance of care received by patient(s) due to reasons other than full recovery from the disease.	Dropout, Patient,Dropouts, Patient,Patient Dropout
D011570	Psychiatry	The medical science that deals with the origin, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders.
D011613	Psychotherapy	A generic term for the treatment of mental illness or emotional disturbances primarily by verbal or nonverbal communication.	Psychotherapies
D003153	Community Health Services	Diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive health services provided for individuals in the community.	Community Health Care,Community Healthcare,Health Services, Community,Services, Community Health,Community Health Service,Health Care, Community,Health Service, Community,Healthcare, Community,Service, Community Health
D003625	Data Collection	Systematic gathering of data for a particular purpose from various sources, including questionnaires, interviews, observation, existing records, and electronic devices. The process is usually preliminary to statistical analysis of the data.	Data Collection Methods,Dual Data Collection,Collection Method, Data,Collection Methods, Data,Collection, Data,Collection, Dual Data,Data Collection Method,Method, Data Collection,Methods, Data Collection
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001291	Attitude of Health Personnel	Attitudes of personnel toward their patients, other professionals, toward the medical care system, etc.	Staff Attitude,Attitude, Staff,Attitudes, Staff,Health Personnel Attitude,Health Personnel Attitudes,Staff Attitudes
D016320	Substance Abuse Treatment Centers	Health facilities providing therapy and/or rehabilitation for substance-dependent individuals. Methadone distribution centers are included.	Drug Abuse Treatment Centers,Drug Treatment Centers,Rehabilitation Centers, Drug,Drug Rehabilitation Center,Drug Rehabilitation Centers,Rehabilitation Center, Drug,Treatment Centers, Drug,Treatment Centers, Drug Abuse,Treatment Centers, Substance Abuse,Center, Drug Rehabilitation,Center, Drug Treatment,Centers, Drug Rehabilitation,Centers, Drug Treatment,Drug Treatment Center,Treatment Center, Drug