Patient satisfaction with methadone maintenance treatment: the relevance of participation in treatment and social functioning.

BACKGROUND: Patients' satisfaction with methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is a key measure of treatment quality. The main objective of the present study is to identify independent factors that contribute significantly to satisfaction with MMT.

METHOD: Participants were a representative sample of methadone-maintained patients (n=123) from the region of La Rioja. Satisfaction with MMT was assessed with the Verona Service Satisfaction Scale for Methadone Treatment (VSSS-MT), and mental health status with the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28). Multivariate linear- and logistic-regression analyses were performed to identify variables independently associated with satisfaction with MMT.

RESULTS: Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the variables independently associated with VSSS-MT total score were number of hours per week that the centre dispensed methadone (β=0.193), number of patients per centre (β=0.233), perceived frequency of receiving information about methadone dose changes (β=0.246), perceived influence on these changes (β=0.194), and Social Dysfunction subscale of GHQ-28 (β=-0.179). Multivariate binary logistic regression showed that the variables independently associated with the likelihood of being satisfied with MMT were number of years of education completed (OR=0.835), number of patients per centre (OR=1.009), perceived frequency of receiving information about methadone dose changes (OR=1.571), and Social Dysfunction subscale of GHQ-28 (OR=0.748).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients from larger centres, who perceive themselves as participating to some extent in treatment decisions, and showing lower deterioration in social functioning are more likely to be satisfied with MMT.