Premium
Treatment expectations and satisfaction of treatment‐refractory opioid‐dependent patients in RIOTT, the R andomised I njectable O piate T reatment T rial, the UK 's first supervised injectable maintenance clinics
Author(s) -
Groshkova Teodora,
Metrebian Nicola,
Hallam Christopher,
Charles Vikki,
Martin Anthea,
Forzisi Luciana,
Lintzeris Nicholas,
Strang John
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1111/dar.12062
Subject(s) - methadone , heroin , medicine , opioid , methadone maintenance , patient satisfaction , drug treatment , refractory (planetary science) , psychiatry , drug , surgery , receptor , physics , astrobiology
and Aims The study investigates patients' pre‐treatment expectations of, and post‐treatment satisfaction with, supervised injectable opiate treatment delivered within UK's first such clinics within the R andomised I njectable O piate T reatment T rial ( RIOTT ) ( ISRCT N0133807). Design and Methods Data were collected from 127 chronic heroin addicts recruited to RIOTT and randomised to receive supervised injectable (heroin or methadone) treatment or optimised oral maintenance treatment at supervised injectable maintenance clinics in L ondon, D arlington and B righton. Results Of 127 RIOTT patients, 113 (89%) provided responses to structured enquiry about treatment expectations, and 94 (74%) subsequent responses about treatment satisfaction (at six months). Patients were hoping that injectable heroin treatment would: reduce substance misuse (81%); help achieve normality, routine and structure (16%); and increase education and work prospects (15%). At six months, an area of treatment satisfaction most commonly reported by all three trial groups was reduced substance misuse (supervised injectable heroin 59%, supervised injectable methadone 56%, optimised oral methadone 54%). Most found supervision acceptable, but some desired modifications were also identified. Discussion and Conclusions Patients previously considered non‐responsive to treatment appear to have similar treatment expectations and aspirations as other drug users in treatment. Supervised injectable opioid treatment patients consistently reported treatment satisfaction but also that more could be done to optimise aspects of current arrangement. This raised the challenging issue of the extent to which opinions of patients need to be taken into consideration in shaping future treatment provision. Future research may need to examine the extent of expectations ‘fit’ and the relationship between treatment sought and received. [Groshkova T, Metrebian N, Hallam C, Charles V, Martin A, Forzisi L, Lintzeris N, Strang J. Treatment expectations and satisfaction of treatment‐refractory opioid dependent patients in R andomised I njectable O piate T reatment T rial, the UK's first supervised injectable maintenance clinics. Drug Alcohol Rev 2013;32:566–573]