title: Factors associated with methadone treatment duration: a Cox regression analysis.
abstract: This study examined retention rates and associated predictors of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) duration among 128 newly admitted patients in Taiwan. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain demographic and drug use history. Daily records of methadone taken and test results for HIV, HCV, and morphine toxicology were taken from a computerized medical registry. Cox regression analyses were performed to examine factors associated with MMT duration. MMT retention rates were 80.5%, 68.8%, 53.9%, and 41.4% for 3, 6, 12, and 18 months, respectively. Excluding 38 patients incarcerated during the study period, retention rates were 81.1%, 73.3%, 61.1%, and 48.9% for 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months, respectively. No participant seroconverted to HIV and 1 died during the 18-months follow-up. Results showed that being female, imprisonment, a longer distance from house to clinic, having a lower methadone dose after 30 days, being HCV positive, and in the New Taipei city program predicted early patient dropout. The findings suggest favorable MMT outcomes of HIV seroincidence and mortality. Results indicate that the need to minimize travel distance and to provide programs that meet women's requirements justify expansion of MMT clinics in Taiwan.
authors: Education Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Chao-Kuang
authors: CK
authors: Lin
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Chia-Chun
authors: CC
authors: Hung
authors: Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Ching-Yi
authors: CY
authors: Peng
authors: Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: En
authors: E
authors: Chao
authors: Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Tony Szu-Hsien
authors: TS
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone