Aims: To identify variables associated with response to first appointments at a specialist alcohol treatment clinic, and to determine the effect on patients' attendance of a brief telephone prompt prior to the appointment. Design, participants and intervention: Multivariate analysis of patient characteristics from referral letters and aspects of the quality of the referral process was carried out. Consecutive non-repliers (n~100), non-attenders (n~100) and attenders (n~100) were studied. A further 100 patients were matched and allocated to two groups, one of which received a telephone prompt prior to their appointment. Clinic attendance was noted. Findings: Results showed that patients' older age, shorter travelling distance to the clinic, shorter waiting time and administrative delay, faster response by the patient to the appointment invitation, and morning appointments were associated with positive responses. Patients not receiving a telephone prompt were less likely to attend. Conclusions: Reductions in waiting time for first appointment, locally based services and prompting patients by telephone would appear to hold promise as strategies for reducing non-attendance in alcohol dependency. Planning would need to take account of whether services could adequately cope with additional demand. Further research to assess the influence of patients' readiness to change prior to appointments is warranted.
Background Although prescription opioid use disorder has recently increased sharply in the United States, relatively little is known about the general well-being of this population. Assessment of quality of life in patients with substance use disorders has been recommended to improve clinical care. Objectives Health-related quality of life was examined in prescription opioid-dependent patients at entry to a national multi-site clinical trial, to compare quality of life scores in the study sample to other populations; further, background variables associated with quality of life in the literature were examined. Methods Prescription opioid-dependent patients (N=653) were compared to general populations on the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) quality of life measure; and the association between patient background variables and quality of life was examined. Results Compared to a general population, the current sample of prescription opioid-dependent patients had worse physical (−1.7 points, p<.001) and mental quality of life (−12.3 points, p<.001) as measured by the SF-36, similar to other opioid-use disorder populations. Within our sample, women showed more impairment than men in mental quality of life (−4.3 points, p<.001); older patients scored worse on physical (−5.2 points, p<.001), but not mental, quality of life. Chronic pain was associated with poorer physical quality of life (−9.0 points, p<.001). Conclusions and scientific significance The growing focus on wellness underscores the importance of measuring quality of life in addition to substance use outcomes. Routine assessment of health-related quality of life can add an important dimension to overall evaluation of patients’ treatment response.
Objective Cannabis use is common among opioid-dependent patients, but studies of its association with treatment outcome are mixed. In this secondary analysis, the association of cannabis use with opioid treatment outcome is assessed. Methods In the main study, participants (N=152) aged 15-21 years were randomized to receive psychosocial treatments and either a 12-week course of buprenorphine-naloxone with a dose taper to zero in weeks 9-12, or a 2-week detoxification with buprenorphine-naloxone. Drug use was assessed by self-report and urine drug screen at baseline and during study weeks 1-12. The association between cannabis and opioid use at weeks 4, 8, and 12 was examined using logistic regression models. Results Participants reported a median of 3.0 days (range=0-30) cannabis use in the past month; half (50.3%; n=77) reported occasional use, one-third reported no use (33.1%; n=50), and one-sixth reported daily cannabis use (16.6%; n=25). Median lifetime cannabis use was 4.0 years (range=0-11) and median age of initiation of use was 15.0 years (range 9-21). Neither past cannabis use (age of initiation and use in the month prior to baseline) nor concurrent use was associated with level of opioid use. Conclusions Overall, cannabis use had no association with opioid use over 12 weeks in this sample of opioid-dependent youth. While cannabis use remains potentially harmful, it was not a predictor of poor opioid treatment outcome.
Background This study assessed whether a Learning Disability Service should develop a specific autism strategy or provide services on a needs-led basis. Materials and methods An autism screening questionnaire had been used to identify individuals scoring above a cut-off who had (n ¼ 9) or had not (n ¼ 15) received a formal diagnosis of autism. A sample of low scorers (n ¼ 22) were matched to these groups. Questionnaires assessing service provision, needs (disabilities and challenging behaviour), quality of life and knowledge of autism were sent to relatives of individuals living at home or key-workers for those living in supported housing. Results The high scoring groups had similar levels of needs. Those diagnosed with autism received more services in total while the high scoring group without autism diagnoses scored significantly lower on quality of life. Although these differences were not maintained when level of disability was taken into account, it appeared that there was some level of unmet need in the high scorers without autism diagnoses group.Conclusions It appeared that resources should be targeted at identifying and addressing the specific needs of individuals presenting with autistic spectrum difficulties.
HDC HRG criteria identify children who consume significantly greater staff resources. Revision of the definition has resulted in a large reduction of cases meeting the criteria but identifies a group consuming greater staff resources.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.