Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics Associated with Improvements in Quality of Life for Participants with Opioid Use Disorder

Authors

Language

English

Publication Date

1-16-2022

Journal

Healthcare

DOI

10.3390/healthcare10010167

PMID

35052330

PMCID

PMC8775674

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

1-16-2022

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

Background: The Houston Emergency Opioid Engagement System was established to create an access pathway into long-term recovery for individuals with opioid use disorder. The program determines effectiveness across multiple dimensions, one of which is by measuring the participant's reported quality of life (QoL) at the beginning of the program and at successive intervals.

Methods: A visual analog scale was used to measure the change in QoL among participants after joining the program. We then identified sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with changes in QoL.

Results: 71% of the participants (n = 494) experienced an increase in their QoL scores, with an average improvement of 15.8 ± 29 points out of a hundred. We identified 10 factors associated with a significant change in QoL. Participants who relapsed during treatment experienced minor increases in QoL, and participants who attended professional counseling experienced the largest increases in QoL compared with those who did not.

Conclusions: Insight into significant factors associated with increases in QoL may inform programs on areas of focus. The inclusion of counseling and other services that address factors such as psychological distress were found to increase participants' QoL and success in recovery.

Keywords

quality of life, opioid use disorder, counseling, relapse, treatment

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

, "Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics Associated with Improvements in Quality of Life for Participants with Opioid Use Disorder" (2022). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 390.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthshis_docs/390