AIMS: To document key clinical characteristics of a group of Maori being treated for alcohol and drug problems; compare the characteristics of Maori accessing dedicated Maori alcohol and drug treatment services with Maori accessing non-dedicated services; and investigate these clinical characteristics in relation to patient satisfaction. METHODS: A sample of 105 Maori with alcohol and drug problems, accessing the range of treatment services in the Canterbury area, undertook a semi-structured interview. RESULTS: Overall this sample of Maori were socially disadvantaged. Their main drug of use was alcohol, followed by cannabis, opioids and sedatives/hypnotics. There were no significant differences between the subjects who attended Maori dedicated services and those who attended non-dedicated Maori services in terms of demographic variables, alcohol and drug use history, current level of dependence, or anxiety/depression state. Subjects in dedicated Maori services were more likely to have had greater than 21 days of treatment compared to those in non-dedicated Maori services and were more likely to have been to their home marae than those in non-dedicated services. In multivariate analysis, Maori in dedicated Maori services were significantly more likely to be satisfied with treatment than those in non-dedicated services (odds ratio = 5.5, 95% confidence interval = 1.81-16.78). CONCLUSION: Further research is required to investigate the relationship between high patient satisfaction by Maori with alcohol and drug problems attending dedicated Maori treatment services, treatment effectiveness and the components of dedicated Maori services that may contribute to higher retention rates, greater patient satisfaction and increased positive treatment outcome.
AIMS: To document key clinical characteristics of a group of Maori being treated for alcohol and drug problems; compare the characteristics of Maori accessing dedicated Maori alcohol and drug treatment services with Maori accessing non-dedicated services; and investigate these clinical characteristics in relation to patient satisfaction. METHODS: A sample of 105 Maori with alcohol and drug problems, accessing the range of treatment services in the Canterbury area, undertook a semi-structured interview. RESULTS: Overall this sample of Maori were socially disadvantaged. Their main drug of use was alcohol, followed by cannabis, opioids and sedatives/hypnotics. There were no significant differences between the subjects who attended Maori dedicated services and those who attended non-dedicated Maori services in terms of demographic variables, alcohol and drug use history, current level of dependence, or anxiety/depression state. Subjects in dedicated Maori services were more likely to have had greater than 21 days of treatment compared to those in non-dedicated Maori services and were more likely to have been to their home marae than those in non-dedicated services. In multivariate analysis, Maori in dedicated Maori services were significantly more likely to be satisfied with treatment than those in non-dedicated services (odds ratio = 5.5, 95% confidence interval = 1.81-16.78). CONCLUSION: Further research is required to investigate the relationship between high patient satisfaction by Maori with alcohol and drug problems attending dedicated Maori treatment services, treatment effectiveness and the components of dedicated Maori services that may contribute to higher retention rates, greater patient satisfaction and increased positive treatment outcome.