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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2013, 15, 4 (pages: 5 - 14)

Opioid Maintenance in Primary Care: a case register based comparison

Broers B., Cassis I., Cerutti B.

Summary: The aim of our study was to compare basic facts, trends, and outcomes of mainly primary care based opioid maintenance treatment (n=3'824, 3.5 years follow-up) in two areas in Switzerland with different health care organizations, using administrative databases. We observed an aging population, no significant canton effect on retention in treatment. Prescribers practicing in or close to specialized centers were more compliant with methadone guidelines. Female patients were better retained in primary care settings. This study adds evidence for the effectiveness of opioid maintenance treatment in primary care, especially for female patients, but continuous education should be encouraged to increase congruence with guidelines.