Exploring Components and Correlates of Satisfaction in an Outpatient Drug Addiction Service

Studies performed in drug addiction treatment settings have indicated that patient satisfaction correlates with quality of services, retention in treatment and effectiveness of interventions. To verify determinants of satisfaction with treatment provided, a sample of 512 patients attending a drug addiction service managed by the Local Health District n. 8 in Cagliari, Italy, was asked to express their degree of satisfaction in services provided by fi lling in an anonymous questionnaire. Questions on sociodemographic, clinical, and service-related variables were also included. Clarity of information, adequacy of hours of opening of the service and delivery of interventions, number of operators involved in the program and multidisciplinarity of intervention constituted the major predictors of patient satisfaction. In particular, patients undergoing integrated treatments expressed the highest degree of satisfaction. Consistent with the results of previous investigations on program attributes, particular attention should be focused on the above components in the organization of services for substance use disorders.