title: Obtaining follow-up interviews for treatment evaluation.
abstract: Studies of the outcomes of substance abuse treatment are often handicapped because of subjects lost to follow-up. While follow-up data may be obtained from several sources, the follow-up interview often serves as the principal source of data. Difficulties are regularly encountered in locating and interviewing subjects not in treatment. From review of the literature on follow-up methodology and our own experience, we identified 10 procedures for effective follow-up. Application of these procedures is illustrated in a follow-up study of illicit opioid users treated in a methadone maintenance program. Follow-up interviews were obtained with 98% of the subjects. We recommend use of the 10 procedures by follow-up researchers, and we also recommend review of several previous publications on follow-up methodology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 78284-7792, USA.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Desmond
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Maddux
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Confer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology; D011330:Prisons; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*
chemical_list: D008691:Methadone