Information in English
Evaluation of the treatment outcomes in a therapeutic community for drug addicts
Prospective, longitudinal, kohort research aimed at evaluation of treatment outcomes in therapeutic communities (TC) for drug addicts for the duration of one year after ending the treatment. By the results or aims of the treatment the author understands measurable and recordable changes, which can directly or indirectly be ascribed to the therapeutical intervention of the community. The measurable results are the main indicators if and to what extent the programme of the therapeutic community meets the expected aims of the treatment itself , and what were the treatment’s effects.
The research is monitoring changes in the following areas:
1. drug and alcohol consumption (the amount and frequency of usage, patterns, exploitation of services offered to addicts etc.),
2. mental and physical health (depression, anxiety, health deterioration in connection with using drugs/alcohol, permanent or temporary health limitations etc.),
3. social functioning ( employment and its sources, social system utilization, housing, personal relationships (family, friends, colleagues. etc.),
4. criminality (types and frequency of criminal behaviour, present-day legal status etc.).
5. quality of life.
PART 1
Research instruments:
A. Start of treatment:
1. In-come Questionnaire - basic information: age, sex, nationality, place of living, family, health (hepatitis), drugs (main drug, injection using, treatment history), social (education, unemployment), legal status (history of prosecute and inprisonment), duration of previous treatments and the way of leaving treatments in TC‘s.
2. Maudsley Addiction Profile (MAP)
3. Opiate Treatment Index (OTI) - drug use only
4. WHO Quality of Life (WHOQOL)
5. Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale
B. Treatment ending, 3 and 12 month after end of treatment:
1. Follow-up Questionnaire - type, duration and the way of leaving aftercare services, family and social status, employment, health status (hepatitis)
2. Maudsley Addiction Profile (MAP)
3. Opiate Treatment Index (OTI) - drug use only
4. WHO Quality of Life (WHOQOL)
5. Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale
6. Situational Confidence Questionaire (SCQ)
The sample:
Clients from five TCs, who come to treatment in 2007 and 2008. In total about 220 clients. Clients are going to be monitored since comming to treament till one year after finishing treatment. All clients are going to be surveyed at the period of treatment starting. Clients with completed treatment or at least 2/3 of treatment duration are going to be surveyed in the end of treatment and then 3 and 12 months after the end. Clients without completeted treatment and less than 2/3 of treatment duration are going to be surveyed at 12 months after leaving the treatment.
PART 2
Theoretical and interpretative part:
Qualitative interviews with heads of TCs and other crucial professionals about practise in Czech Republic (about 10 - 15 interviews):
What is the „succesful treatment”?
What are the indicators of „succesful treatment”?
What changes and in which areas do you expect from your clients?
Analyze in-come criteria for treatment in Czech TCs.
What is nowaday treatment monitoring practice in TCs and agencies? What type of indicators are being monitored and why?
PART 3
Theoretical monitoring:
Concern data from all TC’s in Czech republic (= 10 TC’s), in 2007 and 2008. Monitoring indicators: time in treatment, statut at discharge, clients profile in treatment, duration of successful treatments, duration of all treatments, etc.
Key questions - treatment outcome part (research part):
What are the characteristics of clients entering treatment in TCs?
What type of problems and of what gravity do the clients present?
What is the relationship between client´s characteristics and treatment drop-out?
What changes in substance use and other areas occur subsequently to treatment?
What changes are expected at clients who have completed treatment?
Are these changes maintained over time?
What is the relationship between client characteristics and observed outcomes?
What is the duration of succesful treatment?
Key questions - indicators of succesful treatment part (theoretical and interpretative part):
What is it the „succesful treatment”?
What changes could be expected from treatment in TC?
What indicators has a succesful treatment?
What is the meaning and value of indicators?
What research instruments and metodology is being used for drug treatment evaluation?
What is the Czech and world (especially UK, Holland and USA) practise in drug treatment evaluation?
Which treatment (TCs like specific treatment modality) presents which chances for which clients under what cisrcumstances?
Major outcomes:
• write a final report on the research “Evaluation of the Treatment Outcomes in a Therapeutic Community for Drug Addicts”
• write an analysis on the topic of “Indicators of Successful Treatment in a Therapeutic Community“. Write a draft of these indicators and a recommendation for future evaluation researches and for monitoring results of treatment in therapeutic communities for drug addicts.