title: Ethnic matching of caseworker and patient in methadone maintenance.
abstract: The relation of ethnic matching of caseworker and patient to treatment outcomes was evaluated in a cohort of 610 opioid users admitted to methadone maintenance. At admission, the subjects were assigned to caseworkers in rotation. Thirty-seven percent of the Anglo subjects, 11% of the African-American subjects, and 60% of the Hispanic subjects were matched with caseworkers of their own ethnic group. In all ethnic groups, the matched and nonmatched subgroups did not differ significantly on 11 pretreatment characteristics. The subgroups also did not differ significantly on 3 treatment variables, with the exception of methadone dose in the Anglo group. The Anglo-matched subgroup had a slightly higher mean dose (61 mg) than did the not matched subgroup (52 mg). In all ethnic groups, the matched and nonmatched subgroups did not differ significantly on 12 outcome variables. No relation was found between ethnic matching and treatment outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 78284-7792, USA.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Maddux
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Desmond
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D009294:Narcotics; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone