Triage in Opioid Replacement Therapy: What's the Wait?

Abstract

In Australia, a wait for Opioid Replacement Therapy (ORT) has been reported although the magnitude is unknown. This study examined data recorded by one urban publicly funded ORT clinic (from 2009 to 2011) to identify if people (n = 803) were waiting for ORT assessment appointments and to explore how triage influences access to ORT. Data analysis incorporated descriptive methods and the use of Kaplan-Meier estimator of the cumulative incidence function. The implications and limitations of this study are included with further research suggestions.

RÉSUMÉ

Triage dans la thérapie de remplacement des opioïdes. Quel est le temps d'attente?

En Australie, une attente pour la thérapie de remplacement des opioïdes (TRO) a été signalée même si l'ampleur est inconnue. Cette étude a examiné les données enregistrées par un financement public urbain clinique ORT (de 2009 à 2011) pour identifier si les gens (n = 803) ont été en attente pour les rendez-vous d’évaluation ORT et d'explorer comment le triage influence l'accès à ce traitement. L'analyse des données intégrées méthodes descriptives et l'utilisation de l'estimateur de Kaplan-Meier de la fonction de l'incidence cumulative. Les implications et les limites de cette étude sont inclus dans la recherche en outre suggéré. Le projet a été financé par la Central Queensland Université, système de Degré Supérieur de la Recherche.

RESUMEN

Triage en Terapia de sustitucióon con opia**ceos. ¿Quéespera?

En Australia, una espera para la terapia de sustitución con opiáceos (ORT) se ha reportado aunque la magnitud es desconocida. Este estudio examinó los datos registrados por una clínica urbana financiada con fondos públicos ORT (de 2009 a 2011) para identificar si las personas (n = 803) estaban esperando ORT citas de evaluación y triage para explorar cómo influye en el acceso a la terapia de rehidratación oral. El análisis de datos incorporado métodos descriptivos y el uso de Kaplan-Meier de la función de incidencia acumulada. Las implicaciones y las limitaciones de este estudio están incluidos en futuras investigaciones se sugiere. El proyecto fue financiado a través de Central Queensland University, Grado Superior de Investigaciones esquema.

Keywords :

• opioid
• treatment
• access
• triage
• wait

THE AUTHORS

Warren Harlow is the Nurse Unit Manager of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Service (ATODS) of Queensland Health, and a doctoral student, Centre for Mental Health Nursing Innovation, Central Queensland University, Gold Coast, Australia. He has 12 years of clinical experience, working in drug treatment and mental health services.

Brenda Happell is the Director of the Institute for Health and Social Science Research and Professor at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Mental Health Nursing.

Graeme Browne is a Research Fellow in Nursing at Southern Cross University's School of Health and Human Sciences. Clinically Graeme worked in a variety of settings including community health, in private practice, as a nurse educator, and as a generalist community nurse. His recent research and scholarship include consumer participation in mental health services, the therapeutic alliance/relationship, and mental health nurses as therapists. He is committed to the development of mental health nursing through evidence-based practice and research.

Jahar Choudhury is the in-house Biostatistician at the Institute for Health and Social Science Research. He has more than 15 years’ experience in biostatistics research and consultancy in the multidisciplinary fields of economics, epidemiology, psychology, nursing, public health, and social sciences research. He is an expert in developing study designs, survey methodology, survey instruments, data management and processing, and statistical modeling. He has published research articles in high-quality and high-impact journals. Dr Choudhury provides advisory services to the researchers and doctoral students of IHSSR and Central Queensland University in their specific research areas since his appointment in early 2011.

David Pinchin is the Nurse Program Manager of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Service (ATODS) of Queensland Health, Gold Coast, Australia. He has extensive clinical and operational management experience in working in mental health services and drug intervention settings.