An intervention to improve provider-patient interaction at methadone maintenance treatment in China

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated an intervention aiming to improve methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) service providers' interaction with their patients in China.

Methods: Sixty-eight MMT clinics were randomized to either an intervention or a control condition. Providers in the intervention group attended three group training sessions to enhance their communication skills. Trained providers were encouraged to practice the taught communication skills through provider-initiated individual sessions with their patients. A total of 418 service providers completed assessments from baseline to 24-month. Linear mixed-effects regression models were used to compare self-reported short-term and sustained improvement in provider-patient interaction between the intervention and the control conditions.

Results: The intervention group service providers perceived significantly greater short-term and sustained improvement in provider-patient interaction compared to the control group service providers (estimated difference (±SE): 1.20 (0.24) and 1.35 (0.33), respectively; p-values < 0.0001). Providers' baseline job satisfaction was significantly associated with a greater perceived improvement in provider-patient interaction for both periods (reg. coef. (±SE): 0.02 (0.01) and 0.04 (0.01) for short-term and sustained periods, respectively; p-values < 0.01).

Conclusion: Study findings suggest that the intervention could be beneficial for improving perceived provider-patient interaction in MMT programs. Service providers' job satisfaction should be addressed in training programs for the improvement of provider-patient interaction.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01760720.

Keywords: China; Methadone maintenance therapy; Provider-patient interaction; Service providers.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1.

Consort flow diagram

Figure 2.

Short-term and sustained perceived improvement in provider-patient interaction by quartile of job satisfaction score among all providers. *P-value<0.05; **P-value<0.001; ***P-value<0.0001.