Authors : Ajeet Sidana, Akashdeep Singh, Gurvinder Pal Singh
DOI : 10.18231/j.tjp.2019.017
Volume : 5
Issue : 1
Year : 2019
Page No : 78-81
Introduction: Despite availability of adequate treatment, premature termination of treatment or lost to follow-up is great concern in patients with psychoactive substance use. This creates a hindrance in getting the favorable outcomes, indirectly adding up to the increased burden of the disease. This study focuses in assessing the socio-demographic and clinical variables associated with drop-outs in these patients which can guide the clinicians and health care delivery system to make required efforts in preventing these drop-outs.
Aims and Objectives: To study the pattern including socio-demographic and clinical profile of drop-out patients with mental and behavioral disorder due to psychoactive substance use.
Materials and Methods: Patients attending the Psychiatry Walk-In-Clinic of tertiary care teaching hospital of North India from June 2018 to July 2018 and diagnosed with ‘Mental and behavior Disorder due to psychoactive substance use’ (F10-19) as per ICD-10 were enrolled in the study. Socio-demographic and clinical variables of these patient were recorded using the Departmental walk-in Performa. Patient who didn’t come for follow-up visit till 4 weeks after first contact were considered drop-out. Data was analyzed for factors related to drop-outs.
Results: A total of 1553 patients registered in walk-in-clinic during a period of 2 months (June- July 2018), in which 175 patients were diagnosed with Mental and behavior disorder due to psychoactive substance use. Out of 175, 106 were drop-outs (60%). Socio-demographic and Clinical profile of drop-out patients revealed that 57% were of age group 20-40 years, 98% were Male, 75% were married, 70% had income more than 7000 rupees per month, 54% belonged to joint family, 49% were of opioid dependence, followed by alcohol dependence (31%) and 54% had no h/o of previous treatment.
Conclusion: It can be concluded from the current study that patients with opioid use, employed and without any medical or surgical co-morbidity are more likely to drop-out after the first contact.
Keywords: Drop-out, Walk-in clinic, Substance use disorders, Psychoactive substance use.