Predictors of quality of life of patients in opioid maintenance treatment in the first year in treatment

Abstract

Background: Although research has examined patients’ perception of quality of life while in opioid maintenance treatment, the focus has mainly been on health-related quality of life. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate opioid maintenance treatment patients’ subjective overall quality of life and the potential association between quality of life and factors, such as housing, the relationship with their partner, children and friends, leisure, work, financial situation and health during the first year in treatment. Methods: Self-recruited first-time enrolled patients met for a structured registration through face-to face interviews every third month for 12 months. Sociodemographic factors and nine indicators of quality of life from the National Quality Register for Substance Abuse Treatment were utilized. Results: Participants (N = 38), reported a significant improvement in overall quality of life in the first year F (1, 40.4880) = 7.532, p = .009, with a positive effect on .19 per time unit. In particular, the domain financial situation predicted improved quality of life, F (1, 37.774) = 14.212, p = .001. Moreover, there was no significant change for subjective factors such as leisure, relationship with children, housing, health, and relationship with a partner across time. Specific domains of quality of life such as housing, leisure and financial situation were positively associated with overall quality of life. Conclusions: These results suggest that to address factors as a part of patients’ treatment can be instrumental in improving quality of life. Further research is needed to explore these findings in a larger opioid maintenance treatment population.