title: A follow-up study of heroin addicts (VEdeTTE2): study design and protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Italy, a large cohort study (VEdeTTE1) was conducted between 1998-2001 to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments in reducing mortality and increasing treatment retention among heroin addicts. The follow-up of this cohort (VEdeTTE2) was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments on long-term outcomes, such as rehabilitation and social re-integration. The purpose of this paper is to describe the protocol of the VEdeTTE2 study, and to present the results of the pilot study carried out to assess the feasibility of the study and to improve study procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The source population for the VEdeTTE2 study was the VEdeTTE1 cohort, from which a sample of 2,200 patients, traced two or more years after enrollment in the cohort, were asked to participate. An interview investigates drug use; overdose; family and social re-integration. Illegal activity are investigated separately in a questionnaire completed by the patient. Patients are also asked to provide a hair sample to test for heroin and cocaine use. Information on treatments and HIV, HBV and HCV morbidity are obtained from clinical records. A pilot phase was planned and carried out on 60 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the pilot phase pointed out the validity of the procedures designed to limit attrition: the number of traced subjects was satisfactory (88%). Moreover, the pilot phase was very useful in identifying possible causes of delays and attrition, and flaws in the instruments. Improvements to the procedures and the instruments were subsequently implemented. Sensitivity of the biological test was quite good for heroin (78%) but lower for cocaine (42.3%), highlighting the need to obtain a hair sample from all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In drug addiction research, studies investigating health status and social re-integration of subjects at long-term follow-up are lacking. The VEdeTTE2 study aims to investigate these outcomes at long-term follow-up. Results of the pilot phase underline the importance of the pilot phase when planning a follow-up study.
authors.affiliation: Piedmont Centre for Drug Addiction Epidemiology, ASL 5 - Grugliasco, Italy. federica.vignataglianti@oed.piemonte.it
authors.forename: Federica D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Vigna-Taglianti
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mathis
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Diecidue
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burroni
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iannaccone
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lampis
authors.forename: Piergiorgio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zuccaro
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pacifici
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Versino
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davoli
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Faggiano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D055030:Drug Users / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome