Providing medical care to methadone clinic patients: referral vs on-site care
| Autor: | A. Umbricht-Schneiter, K. M. Pabst, D. H. Ginn, G. E. Bigelow |
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| Rok vydání: | 1994 |
| Předmět: |
Male
Pediatrics medicine.medical_specialty Letter Methadone clinic Referral Substance-Related Disorders Sexually Transmitted Diseases HIV Infections Medical care Ambulatory care Medical illness Humans Tuberculosis Medicine Referral and Consultation Tuberculin Test business.industry Public health Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health Health Services Medical services Hypertension Emergency medicine Female Substance Abuse Treatment Centers business Methadone Research Article medicine.drug |
| Zdroj: | American Journal of Public Health. 84:207-210 |
| ISSN: | 1541-0048 0090-0036 |
| DOI: | 10.2105/ajph.84.2.207 |
| Popis: | OBJECTIVES. Intravenous drug users are at high risk for medical illness, yet many are medically underserved. Most methadone treatment programs have insufficient resources to provide medical care. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of providing medical care at a methadone clinic site vs referral to another site. METHODS. Patients with any of four target medical conditions were randomized into an on-site group offered medical care at the methadone treatment clinic and a referred group offered medical care at a nearby clinic. Entry to treatment and use of medical services were analyzed. RESULTS. Of 161 intravenous drug users evaluated, 75 (47%) had one or more of the target medical conditions. Fifty-one were randomized. In the on-site group (n = 25), 92% received medical treatment; in the referred group (n = 26), only 35% received treatment. CONCLUSIONS. Providing medical care at a methadone treatment program site is more effective than the usual referral procedure and is a valuable public health intervention. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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