title: Development of a monitoring system for heroin-assisted substitution treatment in Switzerland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Switzerland introduced heroin-assisted treatment as a routine treatment for drug addicts. As a result the evaluation instruments were changed from a detailed scientific project to a routine monitoring system. The process for developing this monitoring system is described.
  
  
  METHODS
  The questionnaires and assessment instruments were restyled with staff of the treatment agencies. Indicators measuring quality of treatment and measures from the future national statistic on the addiction support system were integrated into admission, course and discharge questionnaires. Currently a system for feedback to treatment agencies is being developed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 21 treatment agencies are participating in the monitoring. Assessment quality is high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The described monitoring should provide continuous delivery of basic relevant data on patients.
authors.affiliation: Addiction Research Institute, Zurich. gschwend@isf.unizh.ch
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gschwend
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rehm
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lezzi
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blättler
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gutzwiller
authors.forename: Ambros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uchtenhagen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D003932:Heroin