Abstract
Buprenorphine-medication assisted treatment (B-MAT) is clinically effective for opioid dependence (OD). Ancillary treatment services, however, may be needed to maximize treatment efficacy. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the one year effect of a disease management program on treatment outcomes among a national sample of OD patients. Opioid dependent patients new to B-MAT (N=1.426) were randomized to receive either B-MAT plus a patient support program (intervention group, n = 987) or B-MAT alone (standard care group, n = 439). The intervention was a confidential, outbound, telephonic support program designed to provide new B-MAT patients encouragement and help them resolve problems inherent to early B-MAT treatment. Once enrolled in the study, all patients completed the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and Treatment Services Review (TSR) at various time points over one year. The ASI is a semi structured interview designed to measure problem severity in seven functional areas known to be affected by alcohol and drug dependence. The TSR assess utilization of a variety of health, social, legal, employment, and family support services. Logistic regression analyses controlling for baseline problem severity and demographics revealed that intervention group subjects were significantly less likely to abuse opioids at month 12 (p < .05; exp (β) = 1.50), and were significantly more likely to attend 12 step/self-help group meetings for substance abuse (p < .05; exp (β) = 0.71) compared to the standard care group. Randomization to the disease management program resulted in a decrease in the reported use of opioids and an increase in self-help group counseling attendance. Supplementing B-MAT with a structured disease management program seems to be an effective way to improve patient outcomes. Current results replicate, and extend to B-MAT, findings from other studies of the effect of telephonic intervention programs on patient outcomes.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.