Using Assessment Instruments to Improve Treatment Adherence in Substance Abuse Outpatients
Author Information
Author(s): Raes Veerle, De Jong Cor AJ, De Bacquer Dirk, Broekaert Eric, De Maeseneer Jan
Primary Institution: De Sleutel, Dept. of Research and Quality Assurance, Ghent, Belgium
Hypothesis
Does within treatment assessment with feedback improve adherence to outpatient treatment for individuals with multiple substance use disorders?
Conclusion
Assessment with feedback in routine practice improved adherence to treatment.
Supporting Evidence
- 60% more persons adhered to individual treatment for at least eight sessions if continued assessment and feedback was provided.
- Risk ratios indicated enhanced likelihood of adherence in the experimental group compared to the control group.
Takeaway
This study found that giving patients feedback about their treatment helped them stick to their therapy better.
Methodology
A multi-centre randomised controlled trial comparing treatment adherence between an experimental group receiving assessment with feedback and a control group receiving usual treatment.
Potential Biases
Possible contamination in the control group due to the nature of the trial being conducted in a natural setting.
Limitations
The study's primary outcome measure was limited to adherence at and beyond eight sessions, and no other outcome measures were included.
Participant Demographics
Participants were mainly never-married male Belgians with an average age of 27, low educational levels, and a primary substance of abuse being cannabis.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.05
Confidence Interval
95%CI:1.2-2.2
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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