Abstract
This action research was developed to assess the results of good-quality care and
practical guidelines for alcohol-dependent patients in Phimai Hospital during the period
from October 1, 2004 to July 31, 2007. The first group of subjects included 808 alcoholdependent
patients in the three subgroups studied in successive periods of care development:
261 patients treated in the early developing period (Oct. 1, 2004 to Sept. 30, 2005);
241 patients in the developing period (Oct. 1, 2005 to Sept. 30, 2006); and 306 patients in
the post-developing period (Oct. 1, 2006 to Jul. 31, 2007), respectively. The second sample
group was selected by randomized purposive sampling consisting of 35 patients who
received brief counseling and relapse prevention in the alcohol clinic of Phimai Hospital
in the period from February 1, 2005 to July 31, 2007.
The results of the quality care development revealed that the severity of withdrawal
symptoms in the post-developing group had statistically significantly decreased, but
showed no significant difference in average length of stay from any other groups at the 99
percent confident interval (p value < 0.01); relapse prevention showed that 37.14 percent
(13 out of 35), 34.29 percent (12 out of 35) and 8.57 percent (2 out of 35) could continuously
stop drinking over three months, six months and 12 months, respectively.
In conclusion, this action research focussed on the improvement of care and relapse
prevention. However, there were other opportunities to make improvements, such as
combination therapy, counseling in skills training for medical personnel, continuing care
in primary care units and community participation.
