Percepción de los profesionales Españoles sobre la Adherencia Terapéutica en Patología Dual / Perception of Spanish professionals on Therapeutic Adherence of Dual Diagnosis Patients

Objetivo: Evaluar la percepción de los profesionales sobre el grado de importancia de la adherencia terapéutica de los pacientes con patología dual y valorar los tratamientos farmacológicos y no farmacológicos más utilizados. Se pretende averiguar cual es la percepción de los clínicos sobre las causas del incumplimiento y el tipo de estrategias que pueden facilitar una buena adherencia. Metodología: Se realizó una encuesta on-line que fue contestada por 169 profesionales (79,8% médicos o psicólogos)que trabajan en los diferentes tipos de centros españoles que atienden pacientes duales (ambulatorios de drogodependencias, centros de salud mental, hospitalización psiquiátrica, unidades de desintoxicación y centros privados).Resultados: La percepción de existencia de incumplimiento de los pacientes duales es mayoritaria, los profesionales creen que un 29,8% incumplen y un 39,15% cumplen parcialmente. Además el 96,2% percibe que el incumplimiento está relacionado con una mala evolución, de manera grave o muy grave. Ello se relaciona principalmente con la baja conciencia de enfermedad, la presencia de efectos secundarios, la falta de eficacia y las posologías complicadas. No existen diferencias en función del tipo de recurso en el que trabaja el profesional. Para mejorar el cumplimiento se propone utilizar fármacos con pocos efectos secundarios y fáciles de manejar. También se plantea utilizar psicoeducación, técnicas motivacionales y tratamiento psicológico individual. Conclusiones: Existe la percepción de que un alto porcentaje de pacientes duales presentan mala adherencia y que esto influye en el proceso terapéutico. Se deben realizar esfuerzos en el tratamiento farmacológico y no farmacológico (AU)

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the health professional’s perspective about the therapeutic adherence among dual diagnosis patients. It also analyzed the most frequently used pharmacological and non pharmacological treatments. The aim is to learn the professional’s perception regarding the reasons for non adherence and to identify the type of strategies that may improve adherence. Methodology: We performed an on-line survey that was answered by 169 health professionals (79.8%, doctors or psychologists) who were working in centers where the dual diagnosis patients could be treated (Mental Health Centers, Drug Outpatients Clinics, Inpatient Unit, private practice).Results: A majority of the mental health professionals perceive the existence of non-compliance of dual diagnosis patients and they consider that 29.8% have no compliance and 39.15% have partial compliance. In addition, 96.2%believe that treatment non adherence can be related with poor evolution in a severe or very severe degree. The reasons for the non adherence to treatment are the poor disease awareness, side effects, low efficacy and complicated posologies. No differences were found regarding the difficulties and reasons for non-compliance between professionals or centers. It is proposed that using drugs with low side effects drugs and easy-to-manage can improve compliance. It is also proposed to use motivational techniques, psychoeducation and psychological treatment. Conclusions: The perception exists that a high proportion of dual patients have poor treatment adherence, which affects the therapeutical process. Efforts should be done to improve the pharmacological and non pharmacological treatment (AU)

Perception of Spanish professionals on therapeutic adherence of dual diagnosis patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the health professionals perspective about the therapeutic adherence among dual diagnosis patients. It also analyzed the most frequently used pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments. The aim is to learn the professional;s perception regarding the reasons for nonadherence and to identify the type of strategies that may improve adherence. METHODOLOGY: We performed an on-line survey that was answered by 169 health professionals (79.8%, doctors or psychologists) who were working in centers where the dual diagnosis patients could be treated (Mental Health Centers, Drug Outpatients Clinics, Inpatient Unit, private practice). RESULTS: A majority of the mental health professionals perceive the existence of non-compliance of dual diagnosis patients and they consider that 29.8% have no compliance and 39.15% have partial compliance. In addition, 96.2% believe that treatment nonadherence can be related with poor evolution in a severe or very severe degree. The reasons for the nonadherence to treatment are the poor disease awareness, side effects, low efficacy and complicated posologies. No differences were found regarding the difficulties and reasons for non-compliance between professionals or centers. It is proposed that using drugs with low side effects drugs and easy-to-manage can improve compliance. It is also proposed to use motivational techniques, psychoeducation and psychological treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The perception exists that a high proportion of dual patients have poor treatment adherence, which affects the therapeutical process. Efforts should be done to improve the pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment.

Driving and legal status of Spanish opioid-dependent patients.

BACKGROUND: Opioid dependent patients have legal problems, driving violations and accidents more frequently than the general population. We have hypothesized that those patients currently driving may have better legal outcomes than those who do not possess a valid driving license. With this aim we have analyzed the information gathered in the PROTEUS study regarding the legal and driving statuses and assessed the possible association between them. The PROTEUS study was an observational, cross-sectional, descriptive, multicenter nationwide representative study, conducted in Spanish healthcare centers for opioid dependent patients. FINDINGS: The driving and legal statuses of a population of opioid dependent patients ≥ 18 years and enrolled in Opioid Agonist Therapy treatment centers in Spain, were assessed using a short specific questionnaire and the EuropASI questionnaire to highlight distinct individual clinical needs. 621 patients were evaluable (84% men, 24.5% active workers). 321 patients (52%) drove on a regular basis. Nineteen percent of patients had some problem with the criminal justice system. There was a significant difference (p = 0.0433) in status, according to the criminal justice system, between patients who drove on a regular basis and those who did not, with a higher percentage of patients with non-pending charges among usual drivers. CONCLUSIONS: Regular drivers showed fewer legal problems than non-regular drivers, with the exception of those related to driving (driving violations and drunk driving). Driving is a good prognostic factor for the social integration of the patients and policies should be implemented to enable these patients to drive safely under medical authorization. The legal description will be useful to assess treatment efficacy.