Modifiable health risk behaviours and attitudes towards behaviour change of clients attending community-based substance use treatment services.
Health risk behaviours, such as smoking, nutrition and physical inactivity, are significant contributors to chronic disease for people with substance use disorders. This study reports the prevalence of these behaviours amongst substance use treatment clients, their attitudes towards modifying such behaviours and the acceptability of receiving support to do so. Client characteristics associated with risk status and interest in modifying behaviours were examined.



A cross-sectional survey was undertaken with clients of 15 community substance use treatment services within in New South Wales, Australia. Data for the study were collected via computer assisted telephone interviews.



Of those contactable and eligible, 386 (71%) clients completed the survey. Clients reported a high prevalence of smoking (80%), insufficient fruit and/or vegetable consumption (89%) and insufficient physical activity (31%). Overall, 51-69% of clients reported considering modifying their health risk behaviours and 88-97% thought it was acceptable to be provided preventive care to address such behaviours. Younger clients were more likely to smoke (18-34 years (odds ratio [OR] = 4.6 [95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.9, 11.3]); 35-54 years (OR = 2.6 [95% CI = 1.2, 5.7])) and be interested in increasing vegetable consumption (18-34 years (OR = 4.4 [95% CI = 1.3, 14.8]); 35-54 years (OR = 8.0 [95% CI = 2.5, 25.4])) than older clients (≥55 years).



There is a high prevalence of health risk behaviours amongst clients of community substance use treatment services. However, contrary to commonly cited barriers to care provision, clients are interested in modifying their risk behaviours and report that receiving preventive care to address these behaviours is acceptable. [Tremain D, Freund M, Wolfenden L, Wye P, Bowman J, Dunlop A, Gillham K, Bartlem K, McElwaine K, Gow B, Wiggers J. Modifiable health risk behaviours and attitudes towards behaviour change of clients attending community-based substance use treatment services. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;36:369-377.].
Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, Australia.|Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
Danika
D
Tremain
Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, Australia.|Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
Megan
M
Freund
Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, Australia.|Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
Luke
L
Wolfenden
Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.|School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
Paula
P
Wye
Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.|School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
Jenny
J
Bowman
Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.|Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, Newcastle, Australia.|Drug and Alcohol Clinical Services, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, Australia.
Adrian
A
Dunlop
Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
Karen
K
Gillham
Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.|School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
Kate
K
Bartlem
Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, Australia.|Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
Kathleen
K
McElwaine
Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
Beth
B
Gow
Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, Australia.|Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
John
J
Wiggers
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000639:trends*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D000073599:Health Risk Behaviors; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D057566:Self Report; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult
community healthcare; nutritional status; physical activity; substance abuse treatment centre; tobacco smoking