Perceived Influence of Bibliotherapy on the Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts in South-West, Nigerian Teaching Hospitals: An Investigative Study

Abstract

This purpose of this study is to investigate perceived influence of bibliotherapy on the rehabilitation of drug addicts in South-west Nigerian teaching hospitals. The study specifically identified the pattern of information utilisation by drug addicts; examined the approaches used by medical librarians in administering bibliotherapy and the perception of drug addicts on behaviour modification using bibliotherapy. Extant literatures related to the topic were reviewed. The survey research design was used for the study and the population of the respondents consisted of Forty – Eight (48) drug addicts purposively selected from six (6) teaching hospitals (Federal, State and Private) in South West, Nigeria. Questionnaires were used as instrument for data gathering and were pretested for validity. It was analysed using frequency, percentages and four – point Likert scale. Hypothesis was also tested using spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Out of 48 questionnaires administered, 45 were returned and found useful representing 94% response rate. The survey revealed that respondents used specific reading materials for information with mean of 2.9; they used novels, short stories, poetry, plays and biographies to improve their psychological wellbeing with mean of 3.1; it was also revealed that they read online books on addiction and recovery with mean of 2.6, among others. The study also revealed that bibliotherapy assisted them to recognize when they were likely to relapse; it assisted them to avoid and cope with relapse and encouraged abstinence from addictive substances. The result of the correlation indicated a low positive relationship between pattern of information utilisation and behaviour modification. Hence, the null hypothesis was rejected. It was recommended that health information professionals should work with mental health practitioners in providing access to information that would enhance behaviour modification among drug addicts.