A Study of Sharing Needle Behavior Intention of Male Drug Addicts in a Methadone Clinic in Taipei Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior
Date Issued
2008
Date
2008
Author(s)
Yuan, Mei-Jen
Abstract
Abstracthis study is based on Ajzen’s（1985） the Theory of Planned Behavior and the purpose of this study is to predict and perceive the intention and behavior of needle sharing among male drug addicts. One month later we followed up the actual needle sharing behavior by using subject self-reports. The research subjects were selected from a Methadone clinic in Taipei who were male and receiving Methadone supportive treatments aggressively. Fifteen of research population were interviewed by open-ended questions and the salient beliefs were elicited. A formal structured questionnaire was then constructed according to the salient beliefs. A total of 146 respondents were interviewed face-to-face with their consent. The results shown are as follows：. 22.6％ study subjects thought that they would highly likely or likely to have needle sharing behavior within a month after the interview; and 77.4％ of them responded “highly unlikely” or “unlikely.”. The intention of needle-sharing had a significant correlated with study subjects’ attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavior control. They also explained the 75.3% of variation. However, the perceived behavior control was the main affecting variation in needle-sharing intention.. In addition to the internal variables of the Theory of Planned Behavior (attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavior control), the frequency of needle sharing in last 10 times of drug injection can increase another 3% of the explanations of the variance of needle-sharing intention.. The attitude of respondents toward sharing needle intention was positively related to the sum of the product of behavioral beliefs multiplied by outcome evaluations （Σbi*ei). The subjective norm of respondents toward sharing needle intention was positively related to the sum of the product of normative beliefs multiplied by motivations to comply (Σnb*mc). The perceived behavioral control of respondents toward sharing needle intention was also positively related to the sum of the product of control beliefs multiplied by perceived power (Σcb*pp). These results were also consistent with the theory of planned behavior.. The respondents were divided into high/low intention groups by the mean score of needle-sharing intention. There were noteworthy differences in behavior beliefs and outcome evaluations between two groups. For instance, the high intention group is more likely to believe that “by sharing needles can inject drugs faster and relieve the onset of drug addiction immediately” and “they can trust other users” than the low intention group. Moreover, the high intention group had better outcome evaluations of those items.. There were significant differences in normative beliefs and motivations to comply between these two groups. Although both groups believed that most of their significant others thought they should not share needle with others, the low intention group perceived stronger disagreement of sharing needle behavior from family members, drug dealers and spouse/partner than high intention group. Besides, the low intention group were more willing to comply with family and family members, drug dealers, in terms of not sharing needle.. There were significant differences in control beliefs and perceived powers in between these two groups. The high intention group was more likely to have the following 8 situations happened: “ when needing an injection, there is no drugstore nearby to buy needles”, “when needing an injection, the drugstore is closed already, so I can’t buy a needle”, “when needing an injection, I do not have money to buy a needle”, “ when I get the drugs, craving for the drugs has become too strong so that I can''t wait to buy a needle”, “when I am going to inject myself, I find my needle is not working”, “others give me the drugs which was not finished injecting yet in the syringes”, “I am too lazy to buy a needle”, or “ I am afraid of being caught by the police so that I do not dare to buy a needle”. And under above circumstances, the high intention group also believed that they are very easy to share needles with others. On the other hand, the low needle-sharing intention group would have higher frequency of “while injecting drugs , I have my own needle or a brand-new needle with me”, and they believe when they have their own needles, it is more difficult to share needles with others. . The needle sharing behavior intention of respondents was positively related to the actual behavior for the following month (r＝0.874), that again proved that the needle-sharing actual behavior was highly prediction by needle-sharing behavior intention of respondents.onclusions: The Theory of Planned Behavior provided good prediction of needle-sharing behavior intention, and the perceived behavioral control was the main affecting variance. The frequency of needle sharing in last 10 times of drug injection significantly enhanced the explanations for the variance of needle-sharing intention in addition to the main variances of the theory model. 77.4％ of respondents showed that they would not share needles with other users next month. The needle-sharing behavior intention was positively related to the needle-sharing actual behavior, and from the behavior intention, the needle-sharing actual behavior was able to be predicted highly successfully.ecommendations:（1）Continuing to promote harm reduction program,（2）Strengthening case management and nursing quality,（3）Utilizing the unique and powerful drug addicts social net.
Subjects
Theory of Planned Behavior
Male drug addicts
Needle-sharing behavior intention
Methadone clinic
Heroin
Substance abuse
Drug addiction
Injection drug users
SDGs
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