Authors: Oudejans, Suzan C.C.; Schippers, Gerardus M.; Merkx, Maarten J.M.¹; Schramade, Mark H.²; Koeter, Maarten W.J.¹; van den Brink, Wim¹

Source: Addiction, Volume 104, Number 7, July 2009 , pp. 1138-1146(9)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Aims 

Routine outcome monitoring (ROM) is receiving growing attention. However, follow-up interviews are time-consuming and costly. This study examines the feasibility and validity of low-budget telephonic follow-up interviews for ROM in a substance abuse treatment centre (SATC). Design 

Observational study using data collected for routine outcome monitoring. Setting 

The study was performed in a SATC in an urban area in the Netherlands. Participants 

Feasibility and validity were assessed on data of 2325 patients. Measurements 

Data on pre-treatment socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were collected using electronic patient records (EPRs) and the European version of the Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI). Data on intensity of treatment were also collected through the EPRs. Telephonic follow-up interviews were conducted between 9 and 10 months after intake. Findings 

A 53% follow-up rate was achieved; 35% of the patients could not be contacted, 3% explicitly refused and in 8% other reasons accounted for non-participation. About 50% of the interviews took place in the intended time-frame. Costs were €40 ($57) per completed interview. There were indications of selection bias, because patients with cocaine as their primary problem and patients with polysubstance abuse were under-represented in the follow-up sample; the presence of these disorders is associated with negative treatment outcome. Conclusions 

Implementing telephonic low-budget follow-up interviews for ROM is feasible, but selection bias threatens internal validity of data, limiting generalization to the total treatment population. Increased efforts to track patients for follow-up may improve generalization.

Keywords: Feasibility; follow-up interview; outcomes monitoring system; routine outcome monitoring; selection bias; substance use disorders; treatment outcomes

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02593.x

Affiliations: 1: Amsterdam Institute for Addiction Research (AIAR), Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 2: JellinekMentrum, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Publication date: 2009-07-01

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Public Health ,  Psychology
• By this author: Oudejans, Suzan C.C. ;  Schippers, Gerardus M. ;  Merkx, Maarten J.M. ;  Schramade, Mark H. ;  Koeter, Maarten W.J. ;  van den Brink, Wim

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers