title: Satisfaction with substance use treatment and 12-step groups predicts outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Satisfaction is a critical component of patient-centered care, yet little is known about the degree to which patient satisfaction is linked to subsequent outcomes, especially in substance use disorder (SUD) treatments and 12-step groups. The current study assessed the degree to which satisfaction with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient SUD treatment and with 12-step groups, both measured at 6 months after treatment initiation, was associated with additional treatment utilization and better substance-related outcomes during the next 6 months, that is, up to 1 year after treatment initiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 345 patients entering the VA SUD treatment program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More satisfaction with treatment and with 12-step groups at 6 months was associated with less alcohol use severity and more abstinence at 1 year. More treatment satisfaction was related to less subsequent medical severity, whereas more 12-step group satisfaction was related to less subsequent psychiatric severity. More 12-step group satisfaction was related to subsequent increases in 12-step group attendance and involvement. A single item assessing overall satisfaction appeared best related to subsequent outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Satisfied SUD treatment patients and 12-step mutual help members appeared to have better subsequent service utilization patterns and treatment outcomes. SUD treatments can improve outcomes by monitoring and enhancing patient satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Center for Innovation to Implementation, Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 795 Willow Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94204, USA; Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. Electronic address: mkendra@stanford.edu.
authors.forename: Matthew S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kendra
authors.affiliation: Center for Innovation to Implementation, Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 795 Willow Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94204, USA; Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Weingardt
authors.affiliation: Center for Innovation to Implementation, Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 795 Willow Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94204, USA; Center for Mental Healthcare and Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas, Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cucciare
authors.affiliation: Center for Innovation to Implementation, Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 795 Willow Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94204, USA; Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Timko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: 12-step mutual-help; Patient-centered care; Satisfaction; Substance use; Treatment