Advantages of telephone assistance on adherence to treatment in patients with alcohol and other addictions during the Covid19 pandemic

Authors

  • Miquel Monras Unitat d’Addiccions. Departament de Psiquiatria, Institut de Neurociencies, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona (UA-HCB), Barcelona Grup Recerca en Addiccions Clinic (GRAC), Institut de Recerca Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona
  • Laura Nuño Unitat d’Addiccions. Departament de Psiquiatria, Institut de Neurociencies, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona (UA-HCB), Barcelona Grup Recerca en Addiccions Clinic (GRAC), Institut de Recerca Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona
  • Ana Lopez-Lazcano Unitat d’Addiccions. Departament de Psiquiatria, Institut de Neurociencies, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona (UA-HCB), Barcelona Grup Recerca en Addiccions Clinic (GRAC), Institut de Recerca Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona
  • Clara Escribano-Saiz Facultat de Psicologia. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona
  • Queralt del Valle Facultat de Psicologia. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona
  • Anna Lligoña Unitat d’Addiccions. Departament de Psiquiatria, Institut de Neurociencies, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona (UA-HCB), Barcelona Grup Recerca en Addiccions Clinic (GRAC), Institut de Recerca Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20882/adicciones.1783

Keywords:

Substance addiction, substance abuse treatment centers, covid19 pandemic, telephone interview, treatment adherence and compliance, telemedicine.

Abstract

The Covid19 pandemic has led to many publications about its influence on the treatment and evolution of individuals with a substance use disorder, leading to contradictory results. In this study, the adherence and abstinence rates of patients who started treatment in an Addictive Behavior Unit during the pandemic are analyzed, compared with others who attended the previous year and comparing those who were attended in person or by phone. The results indicate that during the Covid19 period, patients had greater adherence to treatment after one month of follow up and when attended to by phone. At 3 and 12 months, greater adherence was maintained, although it was not statistically significant. Regarding abstinence, the small sample size made it difficult to obtain significant differences. The conclusion is that, despite a quantitative decrease in the number of patients beginning drug treatment, in qualitative terms the pandemic led to greater adherence in the short and medium term. Telephone attention can play an important and positive role at this point, complementary to other resources and interventions.

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Published

2022-10-01

Issue

Vol. 36 No. 1 (2024)

Section

Originals