The Role of Gender in Factors Associated With Addiction Treatment Satisfaction Among Long-Term Opioid Users.
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors associated with Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) satisfaction and to determine whether these relationships are gender specific.


METHODS
This study was based on data collected in a cross-sectional study among long-term opioid-dependent individuals (n = 160; 46.3% women). Participants completed the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire in reference to OAT episodes. Sociodemographic, illicit substance use, health, and addiction treatment history data were collected. Multivariable linear regression was used to determine the relationship between these variables and treatment satisfaction. To explore the potential role of gender in these identified relationships stratified multivariable models were tested. Additional open-ended questions regarding positive and negative perceptions of treatment were collected, and a thematic analysis was conducted.


RESULTS
In the multivariable linear regression model, participants who were older, of Aboriginal ancestry, and currently receiving OAT had higher OAT satisfaction scores, whereas participants who had methadone dose preferences of 30 mg or less had lower OAT satisfaction. In stratified analyses among women, the relationship between preferred methadone dose and current OAT remained significantly associated with satisfaction. Open-ended positive and negative perceptions complemented and provided further valuable data to interpret these identified relationships.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the potential role of gender in factors associated with OAT satisfaction. These findings provide valuable information to health care providers working in OAT settings regarding how to address women and men's OAT needs and improve treatment satisfaction.
Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences (KM, HP, DP, JF, PS, MTS, EOJ), Providence Health Care, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada; and School of Population and Public Health (KM, HP, JF, PS, MTS, EOJ) and School of Nursing (SH), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Kirsten
K
Marchand
Heather
H
Palis
Defen
D
Peng
Jill
J
Fikowski
Scott
S
Harrison
Patricia
P
Spittal
Martin T
MT
Schechter
Eugenia
E
Oviedo-Joekes
D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000523:psychology*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012737:Sex Factors
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid