title: Linkage to primary medical care following inpatient detoxification.
abstract: It is important to address the medical problems of individuals admitted for detoxification by arranging for follow-up with primary care physicians after discharge. This was a prospective cohort study of 119 patients admitted for detoxification. Follow-up data were collected over the telephone one week following discharge. Among this group of patients, 72% had a primary care provider (PCP). Patients who intended to see their provider were statistically more likely to be abstinent on follow-up (OR = 4.5, CI = 1.24-16.58, p = 0.024). As compared to those patients without primary care follow-up, having a plan to see one's PCP was associated with lower rates of relapse following detoxification.
authors.affiliation: University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Family Medicine Research Institute, Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, SUNY Clinical Center, Buffalo, NY 14215, USA. griswol@buffalo.edu
authors.forename: Kim S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Griswold
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Behrens
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Blondell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*