Abstract
Purpose
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.
Patients and methods
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
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).
Conclusion
Our results provide further understanding regarding patient satisfaction with MMT, which could help professionals to better understand patient perspective and experience during MMT.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to the patients who kindly participated in the study and to Saiko Allende and Isabel Blásquiz for their secretarial support. Funding for this study was provided by grants PS09/01072 and PI06/0531 from Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spanish Ministries of Economy and Competitiveness, and Health, Social Services and Equality). Funding sources had no role in the study design, collection, analysis or interpretation of the data, writing the manuscript, or the decision to submit the paper for publication.
Author contributions
JPC and JT designed the study and wrote the protocol. NS and SA performed the data collection. SA and CV conducted the statistical analysis. SA wrote the first draft of the manuscript, and all authors substantially contributed to and approved the final manuscript. All authors contributed toward data analysis, drafting and revising the paper and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. JPC has received grant support from RB Pharmaceuticals Ltd to conduct research and educational activities not related to the present research.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.