Patient perspectives on methadone maintenance treatment in the Valencia Region: dose adjustment, participation in dosage regulation, and satisfaction with treatment.
Desired adjustment of methadone dose, perceived participation in dosage regulation, and satisfaction with methadone treatment centres were assessed in a sample of opioid-dependent patients from the Valencia Region (eastern Spain). An independent interviewer asked 278 consecutively arriving patients to answer the survey, and 165 (59.4%) completed it. Adjustment of methadone dose was assessed with a -10 to +10 visual analogue scale (VAS-MD); participation in methadone dose regulation, with specific questions; and patient satisfaction, with the Verona Service Satisfaction Scale for methadone treatment (VSSS-MT). The methadone dose (mg/d) prescribed by physicians was (mean+/-S.D.) 68.0+/-30.4. Participants scored -1.0+/-4.7 on the VAS-MD, indicating a significant downward desired adjustment of methadone dose (95% CI of -1.73 to -0.30). Of the patients surveyed, approximately one-third were, overall, content with their participation in methadone dose regulation. Overall, participants felt slightly satisfied (VSSS-MT=3.5+/-0.6) with the centres. Patients treated with a methadone dose of < 60 mg/d felt more satisfied than those treated with 60-100 mg/d. Information about dose changes was the only continuous methadone dose variable related with satisfaction that was found in a multiple regression analysis, which accounted for only 2.0% of the variance in VSSS-MT overall scores. In conclusion, patients' opinions on methadone dose and patient satisfaction are only very weakly related when methadone treatment is implemented as in the Valencia Region.
Pérez de Los Cobos
José
J
Addictive Behaviours Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona Autonomous University School of Medicine, Sant Antoni M(a) Claret 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain. jperezc@hsp.santpau.es
Trujols
Joan
J
Valderrama
Juan Carlos
JC
Valero
Sergi
S
Puig
Teresa
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010358:Patient Participation; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D008691:Methadone