Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026
05:52
Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
Published on: November 21, 2013
Quality indicators for substance use disorder care: a scoping review protocol.
Ti-Amo DeRuz Richards1, Julia Kirkham2,3,4, Diane Lorenzetti5
1Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada tiamo.richards@ucalgary.ca.
BMJ Open
|March 29, 2025
Summary
This scoping review identifies quality indicators (QIs) for substance use disorder (SUD) care to improve treatment quality. It highlights the need for routine measurement of care quality for SUD patients.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Healthcare Quality Improvement
- Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Background:
- Substance use disorders (SUDs) present a significant global public health challenge.
- Barriers to high-quality healthcare lead to undertreatment of SUDs.
- A gap exists in implementing evidence-based care for SUDs, necessitating quality measurement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a scoping review of available quality indicators (QIs) for assessing the quality of care (QoC) for individuals with SUDs.
- To identify and characterize areas of low QoC in SUD management.
- To inform quality improvement initiatives in SUD care.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Arksey and O'Malley framework, JBI methods, and PRISMA extension for scoping reviews.
- Searched six academic databases and grey literature (1990-2023) for studies reporting QIs.
- Employed thematic analysis, frequency counts, and a modified Delphi process for data synthesis and QI prioritization.
Main Results:
- Identified a range of QIs for assessing the quality of care in SUD management.
- Characterized potential redundancies and variations in QI definitions and data requirements.
- Highlighted the complexity of QoC measurement in SUD care.
Conclusions:
- Routine measurement of QoC for SUDs is not common despite established QIs.
- This review provides a foundation for developing standardized QIs for SUD care.
- Findings will guide future efforts in continuous QoC measurement using population-based data.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural Health Centers
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:17Drug Dependence
Medications are typically administered to achieve therapeutic effects. Some drugs can modify an individual's mood and perception, frequently resulting in various enjoyable experiences. However, this can result in drug dependency, a condition marked by continuous drug use despite potential negative consequences. Drug dependency primarily falls into two categories: psychological and physical dependence. Psychological dependence occurs when the pleasurable feelings induced by the drug...
01:15Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not necessarily...
01:15Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients
Bioavailability studies are essential for evaluating a drug's therapeutic efficacy and understanding its absorption patterns under various physiological conditions. Conducting such studies on target patient populations provides more relevant data by simulating real-world disease states. However, practical challenges often necessitate the use of young, healthy adult volunteers as study subjects.Patients may exhibit altered drug absorption patterns due to the effects of the disease itself,...
01:28Dosage Regimens: Designs and Approaches
Designing a dosage regimen, which refers to the manner of drug administration, is a complex process involving the selection of drug dose, route, and frequency. This process is underpinned by pharmacokinetic parameters derived from tests and population averages. These parameters are then tailored to patient-specific variables such as diagnosis, demographics, and allergy status. Once therapy commences, therapeutic response monitoring is critical and achieved through clinical and physical...
01:24Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...