title: Evaluation of the quality of life (Whoqol-Bref) among methadone and suboxone substitution state program patients and healthy volunteers in Georgia.
abstract: to evaluate QOL patients being treated with methadone and Suboxone in State-sponsored programs in Georgia. The WHOQOL-BREF (26 questions) version was administered to patients in State substitution program and healthy volunteers to assess their overall function and life satisfaction in physical, mental, social health, and environment domains. Domain scores were calculated and converted to 4-20 and 0-100 scales, identical to the WHOQOL-100. 485 patients (309 from 6 Tbilisi and 176 from 5 regional centers) and 50 healthy volunteers (13 male, 37 female) were surveyed. Significant differences were observed between new admitted patients (0-3 month) and healthy controls by mean physical (47.5 vs. 51.94; CI 95%); psychological (55.0 vs. 60.50; CI 95%) and environmental (46.2 vs. 52.2; CI 95%) domains, but not by social relationships or between Tbilisi and regions. The Social domain scores were raised in accordance with time spent in treatment reaching a maximum improvement within 1-3 years (social- 72.8 vs. 67.7; CI 95%), further with few descending tends round the healthy people's scores. These pilot data show decrements in QOL among patients entering maintenance treatment with improvements in the course of maintenance treatment. It is possible that the increased indicators in social domain up to especially high level within the first 3 years is the result of subjective factors, with the subsequent return to healthy community level.
authors.affiliation: Center for Mental Health and Prevention of Addiction, Tbilisi, Georgia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piralishvili
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gamkrelidze
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nikolaishvili
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chavchanidze
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069479:Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005846:Georgia (Republic); D006078:Government Programs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012922:Social Change; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000069479:Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; D009270:Naloxone; D002047:Buprenorphine; D008691:Methadone