Quality of Life Among Patients on Methadone Substitution Treatment

• Main Authors: Hsiang-Hsiung Huang, 黃湘雄
• Other Authors: Pesus Chou
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/22804759390116168681

碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 公共衛生研究所 === 98 === Objectives: To measure subjective quality of life (QOL) and functional disability for patients receiving methadone substitution treatment and to explore the influence of treatment duration on them. Methods: 233 patients visiting the clinics for methadone substitution treatment of two regional teaching hospitals at Mid-Taiwan during September 16th, 2009 and October 15th , 2009 were enrolled. The self-administered Short Form-12 Health Survey (SF-12) and World Health Organization's Questionnaire on Quality of Life: BREF-Taiwan Version (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to measure QOL. The work loss day index (WLD Index) was calculated according to the concept of the WHO Disablement Assessment Scale version 2 (WHODAS-II) and was used to evaluate functional disability in the past month. The effect of treatment duration on QOL and WLD was analysed. Results: Patients participating the methadone substitution treatment for more than half a year had slightly better physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary scores of SF-12 as well as scores for the four domains of the WHOQOL-BREF compared to patients receiving treatment less than half a year. Multivariate analysis revealed that the former has significantly higher PCS score and lower WLD index. Conclusions: Patients taking methadone for substitution treatment for more than half a year has greater QOL and lower WLD. We should pay attention to offer a stable and enduring treatment environment for opiate abusers.