Teoriegebaseerde programevaluering in die ontwikkeling en evaluering van `n alkoholmisbruikvoorkomingsprogram vir die werksplek

[摘要] The aim of the study was to design an alcohol abuse prevention program for the workplacethat was based on a sound program theory. Ultimately the study aimed to indicate anapproach to the improvement of social service programs by the incorporation of programtheory in the design, implementation and evaluation of social service programs.In the first phase of the study the program theory was developed. Literature studies on theprevention of alcohol abuse and on program evaluation were done. This was followed by asurvey in the workplace to determine alcohol consumption and abuse, factors contributing toalcohol consumption, workplace factors contributing to abuse and attitudes towards theresponsible consumption of alcohol. The survey was complemented by focus groupdiscussions. Eight hundred and fifteen respondents completed the survey. The mostimportant findings were that 46% of respondents indicated that they drink alcohol, ninepercent could be classified as alcohol dependent according to the Michigan AlcoholismScreening Test (Selzer, 1971) and 24% of men and 15 % of women drank at risky levels.The most important factors contributing to alcohol consumption were social problems, socialdrinking and dependence. Workplace factors contributing to alcohol consumption were thelack of control, availability of alcohol, social pressure to drink and the quality of work. Theprogram theory was formulated from the results of the literature study, the survey and thefocus group discussions. The all-inclusive program theory was that life skills training will leadto a reduction in frustration and therefore a reduction in the abuse of alcohol, within a positivework environment.In the following phase the program was implemented and evaluated. The program consistedof life skills training, supervisor training and the revision of the alcohol policy. Quantitativeand qualitative methods were used to test the program theory and evaluate the program.The life skills program was tested by means of an experimental design. The experimentalgroups showed an improvement in psychosocial functioning, but the differences were notstatistically significant. The intervention had no significant effect on the consumption ofalcohol. Respondents' knowledge about the moderate drinking of alcohol improvedsignificantly, but attitudes towards moderate drinking were not affected. Supervisor trainingwas done to improve relationships at work and to lower frustration. Supervisors improvedtheir knowledge of managing a troubled employee significantly and felt more comfortable inmanaging troubled employees after the training. The substance abuse policy of theworkplace was revised successfully.The study contributes significantly to the methodological improvement of substance abuseprevention programs in the workplace and illustrates the importance of program theory in thedesign and evaluation of social programs. The study also illustrates how a process offormative evaluation can be used to improve social programs. More specifically the value ofa systematic process of program development and program evaluation has beendemonstrated, including that an in depth problem analysis has been done, an intensive andcollaborative process of theory development has been undertaken and a rigorist evaluationdesign (with quantitative and qualitative components) has been applied.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University