Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Background: With 56% prevalence of HIV-infection among IDUs, the City initiated a MMT program on May 19th, 2008. By the end of 2011, more than 1,200 patients had been admitted to the program. They were provided a comprehensive care system, including medical treatment, HIV referral, linkages, and counseling. The counseling services is an important component of the program as it helps patients to be psychologically stable during a long-term treatment. This paper presents patients satisfaction with the counseling services delivered in the program. Methods: A total of 250 patients participated in the study (22 in dose-probing stage, 19 in dose-adjusting stage, 28 in dose-stabling stage, and 181 in dose-maintenance stage) in HCMC. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized to evaluate the level of patient satisfaction with the programs counseling services. counselors are trained with the knowledge of psychological and social counseling to patients being MMT treatment. Results: Out of the 250 patients with 88% expressed that they were satisfied with counseling services they received, 91.6% felt confident to ask for advice from their counselors, 84% had good relationships 91% felt comfortable to share their feelings and personal issues with their counselors, and 92% indicated that the counseling services they received met their needs. Among the surveyed patients, 94.4% indicated that their counselors were willing to listen to their thoughts and aspirations, 84% said that if they got health problems they were promptly provided referral services to a clinician promptly, 89% believed that the counseling approach is patient-centered. Conclusions: Results from the study indicated that the counseling activities in the program in HCMC were highly appreciated and satisfying by the patients in the program. The counselors must be specifically trained to counsel the participants in the program who are at different stages of IDUs

Biography

Professor Ru-Band Lu had his MD from National Defense Medical center, and then received full resident training in Tri-service General Hospital as well as a faculty (lecture) in National Defense Medical Center. He worked as a clinical fellowship of psychopharmacologist in Baylor Medical College, Huston for a year and then in Tri-service General Hospital and National Defense Medical Center after hes going back home. Since then, he started his studies in molecular genetics and built up treatment model in multiple substance dependence/addiction. He has found the neuroimmunological changes using off-label drugs in opioid dependence/addiction and built up a new model in treating substance dependence/addiction.