Factors associated with quality of life (QOL) scores among methadone patients in Myanmar.

The Drug Dependency Treatment and Research Unit (DDTRU) in Myanmar established opioid substitution with methadone in 2006. Reducing HIV transmission could be affected by eliminating the unsafe needle sharing among injecting drug uses and treatment with opioid substitution. The quality of life (QOL)...

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Main Authors: Sun Tun, Vicknasingam Balasingam, Darshan Singh Singh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-01-01
Series:PLOS Global Public Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000469
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author Sun Tun
Vicknasingam Balasingam
Darshan Singh Singh
author_facet Sun Tun
Vicknasingam Balasingam
Darshan Singh Singh
author_sort Sun Tun
collection DOAJ
description The Drug Dependency Treatment and Research Unit (DDTRU) in Myanmar established opioid substitution with methadone in 2006. Reducing HIV transmission could be affected by eliminating the unsafe needle sharing among injecting drug uses and treatment with opioid substitution. The quality of life (QOL) among the clients retained in the methadone program is important for their personal development and is an indication of the treatment efficacy. This study evaluated factors associated with the QOL of methadone patients to ensure efficient service delivery. It also identified how patients' characteristics had differed QOL scores of respondents. This cross-sectional study was conducted in five cities with stratified random sampling. The study assessed the QOL of methadone patients in Myanmar. The study recruited 210 respondents to answer structured questionnaires for their quality of life: WHOQOL-BREF questionnaires and urine sample collection for methadone and illicit drug use. Survey responses on the QOL were transformed into 100-scale ratings, and higher QOL scores reflect better QOL. The average score of total QOL was 60.82%; precisely 60.09% in the physical domain, 63.11% in the psychological domain, 59.87% in the social relation domain, 60.41% in the environmental domain respectively. Respondents who reported illicit drug use had lower QOL scores. Statistically significant association of the QOL category of the methadone patients was identified with frequent methadone treatment episodes, the infection status of HIV, current treatment on antiretroviral therapy (ART), tuberculosis (TB) treatment history, sexually transmitted infections (STI) history in their lifetime, current work status as peer, Addiction Severity Index (ASI) for drug use, satisfaction with current marital status, satisfaction with current leisure status, history of psychological abuse within 30 days, heroin injection within 30 days, frequency of injection, and reported use of barbiturates (p<0.05). Addressing these factors will improve the treatment service intervention and the quality of life among methadone patients.
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spelling doaj.art-3d4b591f63584431a9ad703ad73507762023-09-03T08:50:21ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLOS Global Public Health2767-33752022-01-0128e000046910.1371/journal.pgph.0000469Factors associated with quality of life (QOL) scores among methadone patients in Myanmar.Sun TunVicknasingam BalasingamDarshan Singh SinghThe Drug Dependency Treatment and Research Unit (DDTRU) in Myanmar established opioid substitution with methadone in 2006. Reducing HIV transmission could be affected by eliminating the unsafe needle sharing among injecting drug uses and treatment with opioid substitution. The quality of life (QOL) among the clients retained in the methadone program is important for their personal development and is an indication of the treatment efficacy. This study evaluated factors associated with the QOL of methadone patients to ensure efficient service delivery. It also identified how patients' characteristics had differed QOL scores of respondents. This cross-sectional study was conducted in five cities with stratified random sampling. The study assessed the QOL of methadone patients in Myanmar. The study recruited 210 respondents to answer structured questionnaires for their quality of life: WHOQOL-BREF questionnaires and urine sample collection for methadone and illicit drug use. Survey responses on the QOL were transformed into 100-scale ratings, and higher QOL scores reflect better QOL. The average score of total QOL was 60.82%; precisely 60.09% in the physical domain, 63.11% in the psychological domain, 59.87% in the social relation domain, 60.41% in the environmental domain respectively. Respondents who reported illicit drug use had lower QOL scores. Statistically significant association of the QOL category of the methadone patients was identified with frequent methadone treatment episodes, the infection status of HIV, current treatment on antiretroviral therapy (ART), tuberculosis (TB) treatment history, sexually transmitted infections (STI) history in their lifetime, current work status as peer, Addiction Severity Index (ASI) for drug use, satisfaction with current marital status, satisfaction with current leisure status, history of psychological abuse within 30 days, heroin injection within 30 days, frequency of injection, and reported use of barbiturates (p<0.05). Addressing these factors will improve the treatment service intervention and the quality of life among methadone patients.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000469
spellingShingle Sun Tun
Vicknasingam Balasingam
Darshan Singh Singh
Factors associated with quality of life (QOL) scores among methadone patients in Myanmar.
PLOS Global Public Health
title Factors associated with quality of life (QOL) scores among methadone patients in Myanmar.
title_full Factors associated with quality of life (QOL) scores among methadone patients in Myanmar.
title_fullStr Factors associated with quality of life (QOL) scores among methadone patients in Myanmar.
title_full_unstemmed Factors associated with quality of life (QOL) scores among methadone patients in Myanmar.
title_short Factors associated with quality of life (QOL) scores among methadone patients in Myanmar.
title_sort factors associated with quality of life qol scores among methadone patients in myanmar
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000469
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