Factors associated with patient-reported experiences and outcomes of substance use disorder treatment in Cape Town, South Africa

The relationship between patient-centred care for substance use disorders and patient outcomes: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Patient-centred care (PCC) is considered crucial for high-quality substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and care, but it is unclear whether PCC is associated with enhanced outcomes. This review aimed to map available evidence of the relationship between PCC and outcomes across the SUD treatment continuum.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review of the literature on the relationship between PCC for SUD and service outcomes in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Six electronic databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles published in English between January 1994 and June 2024. After screening 5268 titles and abstracts and 186 full texts in duplicate, data were extracted from 135 articles and narratively synthesized according to six PCC dimensions (therapeutic alliance, shared decision-making, personalised supports, integrated care for co-occurring disorders, trauma-informed and culturally-informed care).

RESULTS

The findings from this review suggest largely positive associations between these PCC components and the outcomes of generalist and specialist SUD services. Few studies (<1 %) assessed more than one PCC dimension. The therapeutic alliance was the most frequently assessed dimension (35.6 %, 48/135 articles), followed by shared decision-making (16.3 %, 22/135 articles), trauma-informed care (14.8 %, 20/135 articles), integrated care (13.3 %, 18/135 articles), and personalised services (13.3 %, 18/135 articles). PCC in generalist services was associated with greater SUD treatment utilization and fewer adverse events. PCC in specialist SUD treatment was largely associated with better SUD outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlighted evidence gaps on the relationship between PCC and SUD service outcomes, with literature scant for some PCC dimensions and studies typically examining a single dimension of PCC. More research is needed to understand the relative importance of each PCC dimension for predicting SUD service outcomes, how these dimensions interact to influence outcomes, and to develop and evaluate interventions for enhancing PCC.

A stakeholder-driven approach to designing a peer recovery coach role for implementation in community-oriented primary care teams in South Africa

INTRODUCTION

In South Africa, community-oriented primary care teams work to re-engage out-of-care people with HIV (PWH) in treatment, many of whom have substance use (SU) concerns. SU stigma is high among these teams, limiting care engagement efforts. Integrating peer recovery coaches into community-oriented primary care teams could shift SU stigma and improve patients' engagement in care. The peer role does not exist in SA and represents a workforce innovation. To enhance acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness for the local context, we engaged multiple stakeholder groups to co-design a peer role for community-oriented primary care team integration.

METHODS

We used a five-step human-centered design process: (i) semi-structured interviews with healthcare worker (n = 25) and patient (n = 15) stakeholders to identify priorities for the role; (ii) development of an initial role overview; (iii) six ideation workshops with healthcare worker (n = 12) and patient (n = 12) stakeholders to adapt this overview; (iv) refinement of the role prototype via four co-design workshops with healthcare worker (n = 7) and patient (n = 9) stakeholders; and (v) consultation with HIV and SU service leaders to assess the acceptability and feasibility of integrating this prototype into community-oriented primary care teams.

RESULTS

Although all stakeholders viewed the peer role as acceptable, patients and healthcare worker identified different priorities. Patients prioritized the care experience through sharing of lived experience and confidential SU support. Healthcare worker prioritized clarification of the peer role, working conditions, and processes to limit any impact on the community-oriented primary care team. A personal history of SU, minimum 1 year in SU recovery, and strong community knowledge were considered role prerequisites by all stakeholders. Through the iterative process, stakeholders clarified their preferences for peer session structure, location, and content and expanded proposed components of peer training to include therapeutic and professional work practice competencies. Service leaders endorsed the prototype after the addition of peer integration training for community-oriented primary care teams and peer mentoring to address community and team dynamics.

CONCLUSION

Stakeholder engagement in an iterative design process has been integral to co-designing a peer role that multiple stakeholder groups consider acceptable and that community-oriented primary care teams are willing to implement. This offers a methodological framework for other teams designing SU workforce innovations.

The Impact of Drugs and Substance Abuse on Viral Pathogenesis-A South African Perspective

Illicit drug and alcohol abuse have significant negative consequences for individuals who inject drugs/use drugs (PWID/UDs), including decreased immune system function and increased viral pathogenesis. PWID/UDs are at high risk of contracting or transmitting viral illnesses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). In South Africa, a dangerous drug-taking method known as "Bluetoothing" has emerged among nyaope users, whereby the users of this drug, after injecting, withdraw blood from their veins and then reinject it into another user. Hence, the transmission of blood-borne viruses (BBVs) is exacerbated by this "Bluetooth" practice among nyaope users. Moreover, several substances of abuse promote HIV, HBV, and HCV replication. With a specific focus on the nyaope drug, viral replication, and transmission, we address the important influence of abused addictive substances and polysubstance use in this review.

Patient Reported Outcome and Experience Measures (PROMs and PREMs) in substance use disorder treatment services: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Substance use disorders (SUD) pose significant challenges for healthcare systems, and there is a need to monitor the provision of effective, individualized care to persons accessing treatment. Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and Patient-Reported Experience Measures (PREMs) are increasingly used in healthcare services to measure treatment outcomes and quality of care as perceived by patients, and to guide service improvement.

OBJECTIVES

This review aims to identify and characterize international developments regarding the use and systematic implementation of PROMs and PREMs in SUD treatment services.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted searching multiple databases to identify studies on the use and routine implementation of PROMs and PREMs in SUD treatment services.

RESULTS

23 articles were selected, all dating from 2016 onwards. There was large variation in the patient-reported measures that were used, how they were developed and how and when patient-reported data were collected. Treatment providers identified leadership support, the presence of an integrated electronic patient record, and regular feedback to be the most important facilitators of successful implementation of patient-reported measures into clinical practice, whilst treatment dropout and burden to staff and patients were the most important barriers to consider.

CONCLUSIONS

PROMs and PREMs are increasingly used in SUD treatment services, but guidance is needed to support researchers and clinicians in selecting and implementing valid, meaningful, and comparable measures if we want to understand the effects of PROM and PREM data collection and feedback on treatment quality and results.

The impact of organisational factors on treatment outcomes for those seeking alcohol or other drug treatment: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Organisational factors have been found to be associated with health outcomes in a number of health-care settings. Despite likely being an important influence on the quality of care provided within alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment centres, the impact of organisational factors on AOD treatment outcomes have not been extensively explored. This systematic literature review examines the characteristics, methodological quality and findings of published studies exploring the association between organisational factors and client AOD treatment outcomes.

METHODS

Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and the Cochrane database were searched from 2010 to March 2022 for relevant papers. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria underwent quality assessment using the Joanna Brigg's Institute critical appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies, followed by data extraction of key variables pertaining to the aims. A narrative summary was used to synthesise the data.

RESULTS

Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Organisational factors examined included cultural competency, organisational readiness for change, directorial leadership, continuity of care practices, service access, service to needs ratios, dual diagnosis training, therapeutic optimism and the funding model/health-care system that treatment was delivered in. Outcome measures included duration, completion or continuation of treatment; AOD use; and patient perceptions of treatment outcomes. Seven out of nine papers found a significant interaction between at least one organisational variable and AOD treatment outcomes.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Organisational factors are likely to impact treatment outcomes for patients seeking treatment for AOD. Further examination of the organisational factors that influence AOD outcomes is needed to inform systemic improvements to AOD treatment.

A pre-experimental design evaluation of brief harm reduction interventions to improve coping self-efficacy of carers of people with substance use disorder

BACKGROUND

Globally, the rise in the number of people living with a substance use disorder (SUD) carries a multitude of individual and social health implications for carers and their families, often impacting negatively on their quality of life. Considered from a harm reduction approach, SUD is understood as a chronic protracted, complex health and social condition. From the extant literature, there is no evidence of the harm reduction approach being applied to address the needs of carers/family members who carry the burden of SUD care. This study preliminarily evaluated the Care4Carers Programme. It is a purposively designed set of brief interventions to improve the coping self-efficacy of carers of people with SUD (PwSUD carers) by equipping them to think about ways to exert control over their motivation, behaviours and social environment.

METHODS

A pre-experimental, one group pretest-posttest design was implemented with 15 purposively selected participants in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The intervention was conducted by the lead researcher, a registered social worker. Eight brief intervention sessions were held, over 5-6 weeks at research sites where the participants were identified. The coping self-efficacy scale was completed before and directly after exposure to the programme. Results were analysed using paired t-tests.

RESULTS

There were statistically significant (p < .05) improvements in carers' coping self-efficacy, both overall and in respect of each of its constituent components: problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping and social support strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

The Care4Carers Programme improved the coping self-efficacy of carers of people living with SUDs. The application of this programmatic harm reduction intervention to support PwSUD carers should be tested on a larger scale across South Africa.

COVID 19—impact on substance use treatment utilization and provision in South Africa

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted people with substance use disorders (SUDs) worldwide. The aim of this study was to explore, changes in the number of SUD treatment episodes provided during the height of the pandemic and, SUD treatment providers’ perceptions of the impact of COVID-19-related restrictions on people with SUDs and the delivery of SUD treatment services in South Africa.

Methods

We used administrative data collected as part of the South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (SACENDU) project to assess whether the number of treatment episodes changed during the height of COVID-19 restrictions. We used data from an online survey of SUD treatment providers to assess providers’ perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 on SUD treatment delivery. Eight seven SUD facilities were recruited to participate in the online survey.

Results

Sixty-three organisations (out of a total of 86) participated in the survey, yielding a 73.2% response rate. About half (n = 30; 47.6%) of the sample thought the need for SUD treatment had remained the same or had increased during the COVID-19 lockdown. Half the sample (n = 32; 50.7%) reported decreased availability of SUD services during COVID-19 lockdowns. Participants believed that the lack of services during COVID-19 lockdown impacted negatively on patients that were enrolled in their programmes and on individuals who wished to access the service. Furthermore, changes in service provision seemed to increase patients’ anxiety, exacerbate pre-existing mental health problems and in some cases were thought to precipitate relapse. In addition, patient disengagement and attrition from treatment were thought to have increased during this period. Whilst 47.6% (n = 30) of providers agreed with the value of the alcohol ban, 23.8% (n = 15) of providers thought it had unintended negative consequences.

Conclusion

Based on the findings it is evident that SUD treatment services in South Africa have been significantly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic and more severely during the onset of the pandemic. Together with service providers, more effective ways should be sought on how to feasibly expand access to SUD treatment for all South Africans and enhance the country’s preparedness for future health emergencies.

Substance use and substance use disorders in Africa: An epidemiological approach to the review of existing literature

The relationship between man and substances that have abuse potentials, and whose use has been associated with the development or progression of substance use disorders has continued to evolve in terms of geography, economic implications, and time. History shows that local plants with psychoactive constituents can get exported worldwide through global travel, commerce, or even conquest. Time and globalization also change people’s relationship with substances of abuse; hence, an area that was initially alien to certain substances might evolve to becoming a trafficking hub, and then a destination. A case in point is Africa where a rapidly increasing prevalence of substance use/abuse and substance use disorder among adolescents and young adults is putting enormous strain on the economy, healthcare system, and society at large. However, there appears to be a paucity of scientific literature and data on the epidemiology, risk assessment, and contributing factors to substance use and the development of substance use disorders across Africa. In this narrative review, we examine extant literature (PubMed, Google scholar, Medline) for information on the prevalence, trends, and influencers of substance use and the development of substance use disorders. This is with a view of understanding the determinants of substance use and factors that influence the development of substance use disorders in the region, and how this information can be channeled towards developing a comprehensive intervention and treatment program.