Rural Adults' Perceived Role of Family Members in Prescription Opioid Misuse Prevention: Implications for Family-Based Approaches
ORCID
Robertson: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6274-318X; Seitz: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9288-9190; Hardman: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7558-5822; Buys: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8547-056X
MSU Affiliation
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion; School of Human Sciences; College of Arts and Sciences; Department of Communication
Creation Date
2026-01-29
Abstract
Purpose: This study explored and documented rural adults’ perceptions of family roles in prescription opioid misuse prevention and the predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling factors that influence family members from taking those roles. Methods: Nine focus groups with rural adults (n = 55) were conducted to evoke discussion about family roles in prescription opioid misuse prevention. Transcripts were coded based on common ideas that arose during the focus groups, previous literature, and the PRECEDE-PROCEED program planning model. Findings: Findings suggest that rural adults perceive the opioid epidemic as partially a family problem. Additionally, rural adults perceive themselves as having a critical role in preventing prescription opioid misuse among family members. Participants identified specific predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling factors that influence whether or not family members take responsibility in preventing prescription opioid misuse within their families. Rural adults also perceive that family-based education is important in preventing prescription opioid misuse. Conclusions: These results suggest that there is an interest in family-based approaches that enable or foster the skills and resources necessary to engage in prescription opioid misuse prevention behaviors. Specifically, family-based prevention programming should include efforts to shape knowledge and attitudes about prescription opioid misuse, increase resources to facilitate prevention behaviors, and build skills related to prevention.
Publication Date
3-4-2021
Publication Title
Journal of Rural Health
Publisher
Wiley
First Page
100
Last Page
111
Recommended Citation
Robertson MN, Downey LH, Seitz HH, et al. Rural adults’ perceived role of family members in prescription opioid misuse prevention: implications for family-based approaches. Journal of Rural Health. 2022; 38: 100–111. https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12565
