RESEARCH REPORT

Misconceptions predict dropout and poor adherence prospectively among newly admitted first-time methadone maintenance treatment clients in Guangzhou, China

  1. Jing Gu1,2,
  2. Huifang Xu3,
  3. Joseph T. F. Lau2,4,*,
  4. Yuantao Hao1,
  5. Ying Zhong5,
  6. Lirui Fan3,
  7. Yuteng Zhao3,
  8. Chun Hao1,2,
  9. Wenhua Ling1

Article first published online: 8 MAY 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03859.x

Issue

Addiction

Addiction

Volume 107, Issue 9, pages 1641–1649, September 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Gu, J., Xu, H., Lau, J. T. F., Hao, Y., Zhong, Y., Fan, L., Zhao, Y., Hao, C. and Ling, W. (2012), Misconceptions predict dropout and poor adherence prospectively among newly admitted first-time methadone maintenance treatment clients in Guangzhou, China. Addiction, 107: 1641–1649. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03859.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China,

  2. 2

    Centre for Medical Anthropology and Behavioral Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China,

  3. 3

    Guangzhou Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Guangzhou, China,

  4. 4

    Centre for Health Behaviors Research, School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong

  5. 5

    College of Public Management, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China

*Joseph T. F. Lau, Division of Health Improvement, School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, 5/F, School of Public Health and Primary Care, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong. E-mail: jlau@cuhk.edu.hk

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 2 AUG 2012
  2. Article first published online: 8 MAY 2012
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 23 FEB 2012 12:00AM EST
  4. Submitted 1 September 2011; initial review completed 7 October 2011; final version accepted 17 February 2012

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Keywords:

  • Adherence;
  • China;
  • cohort study;
  • dropout;
  • drug use;
  • HIV;
  • methadone maintenance treatment;
  • misconception

ABSTRACT

Aims  To investigate the incidence of dropout and the prevalence of poor adherence among newly admitted first-time clients of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics, and the associations between MMT-related misconceptions and these two treatment outcomes.

Design  A cohort study (maximum follow-up period = 17.6 months) was conducted.

Setting  Three of the nine MMT clinics in Guangzhou, China participated in the study.

Participants  The sample included 158 newly admitted first-time MMT clients.

Measurements  Information collected included background characteristics, history of drug use, MMT-related misconceptions, dropout during the entire study period and poor adherence within the first 6 months since admission to MMT.

Findings  Of all newly admitted MMT clients, 98.2% possessed at least one and 50.6% possessed all four types of MMT-related misconception; 51.3% had dropped out before the completion of the study [95% confidence interval (CI): 43.5–59.1%] and 62% exhibited poor adherence within the first 6 months since admission (95% CI: 54.2–69.6%). Adjusting for significant background variables, the number of misconceived responses predicted significantly both dropout [hazard ratio (HR) = 3.80 for two to three misconceived items, HR = 7.13 for four misconceived items, with zero to one misconceived item being the reference] and poor adherence within the first 6 months [relative risk (RR) = 4.13 for two to three misconceived items; RR = 4.40 for four misconceived items, with zero to one misconceived item being the reference.

Conclusions  Among opiate addicts in China prescribed methadone maintenance therapy for the first time, misconceptions about this medication are prevalent and are associated with poor adherence to the medication regimen and a high a rate of dropout from the treatment programme.

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