Rationale and Staff Evaluation of Using a “Therapeutic Milieu” for Substance Users Within a Tuberculosis Ward

Approximately 30% of tuberculosis (TB) patients in Israel were treated, in part, in two dedicated hospital wards during the years 2003–2005. A portion of them manifested severe psychosocial conditions. An intervention based on the “Therapeutic Milieu” (TM) model was implemented in the larger ward and included a staff evaluation of this intervention. The concept of TM, based on psychosocial paradigms and behavioral medicine, is aimed at providing a supportive environment for patients. Weekly group patients' meetings and monthly group staff supervisions were performed during 15 months (2003–2005). Forty of the 196 (20%) TB patients, mainly “complex,” and 13 of 20 staff members (65%) attended regularly and discussed how to deal with substance abuse, personality disorders, and immigration-related crises. Out of 40 TB cases, 30 (75%) were also substance users. Ten staff members self-analyzed the impact of this intervention in terms of (1) having given adequate tools for the staff, (2) reducing physical violenc...