Misconceptions predict dropout and poor adherence prospectively among newly admitted first-time methadone maintenance treatment clients in Guangzhou, China.

AIMS: To investigate the incidence of dropout and the prevalence of poor adherence among newly admitted first-time clients of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics, and the associations between MMT-related misconceptions and these two treatment outcomes.

DESIGN

A cohort study (maximum follow-up period = 17.6 months) was conducted.

SETTING

Three of the nine MMT clinics in Guangzhou, China participated in the study.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample included 158 newly admitted first-time MMT clients.

MEASUREMENTS: Information collected included background characteristics, history of drug use, MMT-related misconceptions, dropout during the entire study period and poor adherence within the first 6 months since admission to MMT.

FINDINGS: Of all newly admitted MMT clients, 98.2% possessed at least one and 50.6% possessed all four types of MMT-related misconception; 51.3% had dropped out before the completion of the study [95% confidence interval (CI): 43.5-59.1%] and 62% exhibited poor adherence within the first 6 months since admission (95% CI: 54.2-69.6%). Adjusting for significant background variables, the number of misconceived responses predicted significantly both dropout [hazard ratio (HR) = 3.80 for two to three misconceived items, HR = 7.13 for four misconceived items, with zero to one misconceived item being the reference] and poor adherence within the first 6 months [relative risk (RR) = 4.13 for two to three misconceived items; RR = 4.40 for four misconceived items, with zero to one misconceived item being the reference.

CONCLUSIONS

Among opiate addicts in China prescribed methadone maintenance therapy for the first time, misconceptions about this medication are prevalent and are associated with poor adherence to the medication regimen and a high a rate of dropout from the treatment programme.