Changes in quality of life and its associated factors among illicit drug users in Vietnamese mountainous provinces: a 12-month follow-up study.
BACKGROUND
Sustainability of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) program involves regularly assessing its impact on health and social outcomes of drug users in different settings, particularly in disadvantaged areas. In this study, we evaluated the change in quality of life (QoL), and identified associated factors amongst drug users over the course of 12-month MMT in Vietnamese mountainous provinces.


METHODS
We conducted a longitudinal study among patients from 6 MMT clinics in three mountainous provinces of Vietnam. At baseline, we screened 300 participants and after a 12-month treatment, 244 participants remained to involve in the study. World Health Organization Quality of Life short form instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to measure the QoL of patients. The magnitude of the changes was extrapolated.


RESULTS
There were significant changes in all four dimensions of quality of life measured by WHOQoL-BREF between baseline and 12 months with the effect size ranged from 0.21 to 0.24. Increased age, being workers compared to unemployment and having health problems or comorbidities were positively related to reduced scores of QoL.


CONCLUSIONS
To conclude, we observed a significant increase in the QoL level regarding physical, psychological, social relationships and environmental aspects among people who used drug after 12 months of MMT. Findings from this study emphasize the role of continuously receiving MMT treatment among people using drugs to enhance their QoL.
['Tran|Bach Xuan|BX|', 'Moir|Mackenzie|M|', 'Nguyen|Tam Minh Thi|TMT|', 'Do|Ha Ngoc|HN|', 'Vu|Giang Thu|GT|', 'Dang|Anh Kim|AK|', 'Ha|Giang Hai|GH|', 'Nguyen|Trang Huyen Thi|THT|', 'Vuong|Hoang Quan|HQ|', 'Ho|Tung Manh|TM|', 'Van Dam|Nhue|N|', 'Vuong|Trang Thu|TT|', 'Latkin|Carl A|CA|', 'Ho|Cyrus S H|CSH|', 'Ho|Roger C M|RCM|']
D000328:Adult D005500:Follow-Up Studies D006304:Health Status D006801:Humans D013287:Illicit Drugs D008137:Longitudinal Studies D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D011788:Quality of Life D012424:Rural Population D019966:Substance-Related Disorders D014744:Vietnam
Vietnam WHOQoL-BREF Drug abuse Health-related quality of life Injection drug use Methadone maintenance therapy