Barriers to, and incentives for, the transfer of opioid-dependent people on methadone maintenance treatment from secondary care to primary health care.
OBJECTIVE
To explore barriers to, and incentives for, clients on methadone-maintenance treatment (MMT) in Auckland, New Zealand to transfer from secondary care to general practitioner (GP) care.


METHODS
Surveys (with free text response sections) of MMT secondary care staff, stabilised clinic clients, authorised GPs and GP patients.


RESULTS
High response rates from secondary care staff (77%) and GPs (74%). Barriers to stable clients' transfer included financial cost and attitudes of secondary care staff and clients. Incentives for patient transfer included confidentiality, a holistic approach to their care, continuity of care, increased patient control, convenience and avoidance of contact with other opioid-dependent people. Distrust in the quality of care provided by authorised GPs was a major barrier for some secondary care staff and their clients, despite prerequisite training for authorisation. In contrast, patients rated primary better than secondary care with none stating a likelihood to return to the secondary service within 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Progression from secondary to primary care should be incorporated in MMT planning from the outset, with secondary services staff reassured about the quality of primary care. An integrated transition period and exploration of funding options to assist transfer from largely publicly funded secondary to largely privately funded primary care are also recommended.
Sheridan
Janie
J
School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland, New Zealand. j.sheridan@auckland.ac.nz
Goodyear-Smith
Felicity
F
Butler
Rachael
R
Wheeler
Amanda
A
Gohns
Annette
A
D000328:Adult; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011383:Progressive Patient Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone