Abstract
Background
Long-acting injectable buprenorphine is an effective treatment for opioid use disorder. This paper asks: 1. How satisfied are people with long-acting injectable buprenorphine during their first year of treatment? 2. How do people receiving long-acting injectable buprenorphine assess treatment satisfaction/dissatisfaction? 3. Does long-acting injectable buprenorphine require its own specific satisfaction measure?
Methods
Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 26 people receiving long-acting injectable buprenorphine. Participants were recruited from community drug treatment services in England and Wales. Data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed via Iterative Categorization.
Results
Patient satisfaction was high and constituted through six domains: 1. Global satisfaction (overall satisfaction, preferred medication); 2. Medication features (dose, injection, knowing what to expect, availability); 3. Effects on substance use (drug consumption, withdrawal symptoms); 4. Effects on substance use treatment (not having to attend services daily, support provided by services); 5. Effects on the self (physical changes, psychological impact); 6. Effects on daily life (employment/studying, interest in other activities, relationships, material possessions, no acquisitive crime).
Conclusions
Satisfaction is a multifaceted construct extending beyond long-acting injectable buprenorphine’s pharmacological properties and encompassing wider life areas. Further research is needed to develop a specific satisfaction measure, but adaptations to clinical practice may improve satisfaction meantime.
Long-acting injectable buprenorphine is an effective treatment for opioid use disorder. This paper asks: 1. How satisfied are people with long-acting injectable buprenorphine during their first year of treatment? 2. How do people receiving long-acting injectable buprenorphine assess treatment satisfaction/dissatisfaction? 3. Does long-acting injectable buprenorphine require its own specific satisfaction measure?
Methods
Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 26 people receiving long-acting injectable buprenorphine. Participants were recruited from community drug treatment services in England and Wales. Data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed via Iterative Categorization.
Results
Patient satisfaction was high and constituted through six domains: 1. Global satisfaction (overall satisfaction, preferred medication); 2. Medication features (dose, injection, knowing what to expect, availability); 3. Effects on substance use (drug consumption, withdrawal symptoms); 4. Effects on substance use treatment (not having to attend services daily, support provided by services); 5. Effects on the self (physical changes, psychological impact); 6. Effects on daily life (employment/studying, interest in other activities, relationships, material possessions, no acquisitive crime).
Conclusions
Satisfaction is a multifaceted construct extending beyond long-acting injectable buprenorphine’s pharmacological properties and encompassing wider life areas. Further research is needed to develop a specific satisfaction measure, but adaptations to clinical practice may improve satisfaction meantime.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy |
| Early online date | 26 May 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 26 May 2025 |
Keywords
- Heroin
- Long-acting injectable buprenorphine
- Measurement
- Opioid
- Qualitative
- Satisfaction
- Treatment
