[Opportunities for the improvement of the methadone service in primary health care, from the professionals' point of view].
OBJECTIVE
To identify and prioritize improvement opportunities, according to the European Foundation for Quality Management model (EFQM) model, of the methadone dispensing service in Andalusian Primary Health Care, from the point of view of professionals.


METHODS
Delphi consensus method, implemented from September 2007 to March 2008 by means of three rounds of interviews with questionnaires administered by electronic mail to 39 professionals. The Panel of experts was made up of Dispensers and Prescribers of methadone as well as Coordinators of welfare services from the Methadone Treatment Program (MTP). Selection criteria were: Being in active employment with a minimum of 3 years experience. Sample diversification variables: Professional role, geographical environment and type of habitat. Recruitment: By means of key professional bodies from different institutions.


RESULTS
48 improvement opportunities were identified. Thirteen of these obtained a high level of agreement in the final round. According to the EFQM model, the dimensions that obtained the most consensus in relation to improving the care service were: Leadership, Alliances and Resources. The dimension that caused the greatest disagreement was Processes.


CONCLUSIONS
In spite of its having been implemented since 1997 in Andalusian Primary Health Care, the methadone dispensing service is at an implementation phase, rather than what could be classed as a fully deployed stage.
Rodríguez Reinado
Carmen
C
Departamento de Sociología y Trabajo Social, Universidad de Huelva, Spain.
Millán Carrasco
Almudena
A
Venegas Sánchez
Jesús
J
March Cerdá
Joan Carles
JC
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000592:standards*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care
D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone