Heroin-dependent patient satisfaction with methadone as a medication influences satisfaction with basic interventions delivered by staff to implement methadone maintenance treatment

• Published in: Patient preference and adherence 2018-01, Vol.12, p.1203-1211
• Main Authors: Alcaraz, Saul, Viladrich, Carme, Trujols, Joan, Siñol, Núria, Pérez de Los Cobos, José
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Addiction; Analysis; Detoxification (Substance abuse treatment); Drug abuse; exploratory structural equation modeling; Heroin; heroin addiction; Heroin habit; methadone maintenance treatment; Original Research; Patient satisfaction; satisfaction with medication; satisfaction with treatment; Substance abuse treatment
• ISSN: 1177-889X; 1177-889X
• DOI: 10.2147/PPA.S164181

The aim of the present study was to test a structural equation model of patient satisfaction with different key facets of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). In this model, the three dimensions of patient satisfaction with methadone as a medication (ie, personal functioning and well-being, anti-addictive effect on heroin, and anti-addictive effect on non-opioid substances) were expected to predict satisfaction with the basic interventions delivered by the staff of treatment centers to implement MMT. A sample of 210 heroin-dependent patients, resistant to MMT treatment (mean age =41.66 years, SD =6.50; 75.7% male), participated voluntarily in this study. Preliminary analysis based on exploratory structural equation modeling supported the expected three-factor measurement model of the scale to assess satisfaction with medications for addiction treatment - methadone for heroin addiction. Moreover, the 15 items measuring staff's basic interventions were shown to be compatible with the expected single-factor measurement model. Then, both measurement models were included in a structural model. Results of this model show that patient satisfaction with the compatibility of methadone with personal functioning and well-being, as well as with the anti-addictive effects of methadone on non-opioid substances, predicts satisfaction with basic interventions conducted at methadone treatment centers (β=0.191 and β=0.152, respectively). Our results provide further understanding regarding patient satisfaction with MMT, which could help professionals to better understand patient perspective and experience during MMT.