Methadone maintenance in general practice: impact on staff attitudes

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• General Practice
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Evaluating a structured protocol for discharging stabilized patients on methadone maintenance into general practice.
• Assessing the impact on the attitudes of general practitioners (GPs) and practice staff.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess attitudes, expectations, and experiences of GPs and practice staff.
• Comparison before and six months after the introduction of structured methadone maintenance.

Main Methods:

• Postal questionnaires administered to 31 GPs and 23 receptionists in 23 Dublin general practices.
• Data collected before patient visits and six months later.
• Outcome measures included staff attitudes, disruption incidence, perceived difficulties, and stress levels.

Main Results:

• Generally positive attitudes towards methadone provision in general practice for stabilized patients.
• Attitudes remained similar after six months; stress levels were unchanged.
• Fewer GPs anticipated problems, and all participants continued in the scheme.

Conclusions:

• GPs and receptionists held mixed views on methadone maintenance, unchanged by six months of experience.
• The study highlights challenges in recruiting and supporting general practices for this service.
• Important considerations for integrating opioid use disorder treatment into primary care settings.