Publication:
Factors associated with good response in methadone therapy in a Malaysian district hospital

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Abstract

Introduction: Methadone maintenance treatment is effective in reducing opiate use, related crime and HIV risk behaviors. However, the number of patients dropping out of treatment or continue misusing drugs are significant. Primary screening of such patients could be useful in the development of guidelines targeted to prevent such incident. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of good treatment responders and whether socio-demographic factors and methadone dosage are associated with good responses. Methods: Respondents were studied from November 2009 until April 2010 and involved all patients that had undergone methadone therapy from November 2005 to November 2009. Data was obtained from medical and pharmacy records. Missing data was obtained directly from patients via direct interviewing. Patients were considered to have a good response if they stay in the programme and have negative urinalysis result within 6 months of enrolment. Results: 66 out of 104 patients have a good response in methadone therapy. There is an association between good response in methadone therapy and educational level (p=0.045) and district of origin (p=0.041). However, there were no associations with methadone dosage. Conclusion: Higher educational level of at least secondary school education was found to be a good predictor of good response to methadone therapy. Patients who originated from nearby areas have better outcomes. This could be due to the direct observation therapy which could have an effect on non-compliance of patients who lived far away. This suggests the need to provide methadone therapy in local areas for better accessibility and compliance. 2019 UPM Press. All rights reserved.

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Mal J Med Health Sci 15(3): 14-19, Oct 2019

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Methadone, Methadone dose, Predictor of compliance, Sociodemographic factors

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