Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #101480

Alexandre Laudet, PhD¹, Keith Morgen, PhD¹, Virginia Stanick, PhD, CSW¹, John Carway, PhD², and Brian Sands, MD³. (1) Center for the Study of Addictions and Recovery, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23rd street, 8th floor, New York City, NY 10010, 1-212-845-4520, Laudet@ndri.org, (2) VIP Community Services, 1910 arthur avenue, 4th floor, Bronx, NY, NY 10457-6305, (3) Psychiatry, Woodhull Medical Center, 760 broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11206

Participation in addiction treatment has been associated with reduced substance use; early treatment engagement is particularly critical. One potentially crucial yet under-investigated domain in treatment engagement and outcome research is clients' perceptions of/satisfaction with the treatment program, goodness of fit and relationship with counselors. We examine the role of clients' early treatment evaluation and satisfaction on post-treatment outcome domains previously associated with reduced substance use. Methods: 308 consecutive admissions to publicly-funded inner-city outpatient drug treatment in NYC were interviewed within 2 weeks of admission (BASE) and again at treatment end (DIS - preliminary N=117). Predictor domains: Clients' treatment evaluation at BASE (e.g., whether program matches expectations, working as a team with counselor, treatment plan matching one's goals). Outcome domains: treatment completion status, 12-step affiliation, and commitment to abstinence at DIS. We constructed a 7-item Treatment Evaluation Scale (alpha =.72) and predicted that more positive BASE scale scores would be predict more positive DIS outcomes, controlling for baseline level of the outcome (addiction severity for treatment completion status). Predictor variables were regressed on each of the 3 outcomes. Results: Findings supported study hypotheses: More positive Treatment Evaluation early on significantly predicted greater likelihood to graduate (vs. dropping out), to self-identify as a member of a 12-step fellowship, and to report higher levels of commitment to abstinence at DIS. Conclusions: Impressions that clients form early on in treatment are critical to post-treatment outcome and to fostering recovery-promoting cognitions and activities. Funded by National Institutes on Drug Abuse Grant R01DA015133-01A1.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

• Understand the importance of impressions clients form early on in the treatment episode
• recognize the importance of opening the dialogue with clients about goodness of fit between program and client goals/beliefs
• use this knowledge and understanding to develop strategies that foster early engagement in the treatment process

Keywords: Substance Abuse Treatment, Recovery

Related Web page: www.ndri.org/ctrs/cstar.html

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation