Incorporating Patient-Reported Outcome Measures and Patient-Reported Experience Measures in Addiction Treatment Services in Belgium: Naturalistic, Longitudinal, Multicenter Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, treatment outcomes of service users with a substance use disorder (SUD) are measured using objective and provider-reported indicators. In recent years, there has been a shift toward incorporating patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) to capture service users' perspectives on treatment outcomes and experiences. OBJECTIVE: The OMER-BE (Outcome Measurement and Evaluation as a Routine Practice in Alcohol and Other Drug Services in Belgium) study evaluates the acceptability and feasibility of PROMs and PREMs in different SUD treatment services, using the recently developed International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement Standard Set for Addictions. This paper presents the design and baseline characteristics of the study, indicators of attrition at 45-day follow-up, and the feasibility of the implementation of PROMs and PREMs in residential and outpatient services. METHODS: A convenience sample of 189 treatment-seeking individuals with SUD from different inpatient (therapeutic communities and psychiatric centers) and outpatient treatment services was followed for six months. Sociodemographic characteristics; clinical factors; and PROMs including recovery strengths, quality of life, and global health were assessed at baseline and within 3 weeks after starting treatment. Additionally, PROMs and PREMs were measured 45, 90, and 180 days later. Comparisons were made between treatment modalities, and indicators of attrition at the 45-day follow-up were assessed using ANOVA and chi-square tests. RESULTS: Baseline differences were observed between the three treatment modalities regarding education, SUD treatment history, primary substance, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report scores. Overall, patients in psychiatric treatment centers had a higher education level and less polysubstance use, while outpatients had fewer previous SUD treatments but received relatively more often opioid agonist treatment. Inpatients reported more attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and higher SUD severity than outpatients. Additionally, recovery strength scores were significantly lower in the outpatient group compared to the other groups, particularly in the subdomains of "Substance Use," "Self-care," and "Outlook on Life." At the 45-day follow-up assessment, the attrition rate was 36.6%. Comparisons between participants who completed the 45-day follow-up and those who dropped out revealed that completers were significantly older, had a higher level of education, were more likely to live alone, and were more likely to have a mother born in Belgium. They also had higher average scores on the "Material Resources" domain of the Substance Use Recovery Evaluator, which includes questions about stable housing, a steady income, and effective financial management. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluating PROMs and PREMs appears to be feasible in a diverse group of treatment-seeking patients with SUD in Belgium. However, challenges remain for structural implementation in practice, especially in outpatient services. Routine monitoring of PROMs and PREMs has the potential to empower patients, service providers, and policy makers by providing a comprehensive understanding of service users' needs and treatment effectiveness.

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