Responding to alcohol and other drug issues: The effect of role adequacy and role legitimacy on motivation and satisfaction

Abstract

Aims: This study examined the antecedents of health professionals’ motivation and satisfaction in responding to alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues. Building on Shaw and colleagues’ seminal work, the study examined the influence of education, support, AOD experience, and perceptions of role adequacy and role legitimacy. Method: This study involved a national survey of Australian health professionals (N = 351) from two occupations: nurses (N = 223) and mental health professionals (N = 128). Findings: The strongest predictors of role legitimacy and role adequacy were support and the perceived usefulness of education. Satisfaction was predicted by perceived role legitimacy in both samples, and by perceived role adequacy for mental health professionals. Motivation was predicted by perceived role adequacy and role legitimacy in both samples. Conclusion: Identification of support as a key predictor of role adequacy and legitimacy reinforces the importance of workforce development interventions at an organizational or systems level rather than focusing exclusively on the knowledge, skills and experience of an individual worker. Furthermore, the emergence of role legitimacy as the primary predictor of motivation highlights the need to move beyond just the provision of education and training. These findings have important implications for future AOD workforce development strategies.