Relationship between perceived improvement and treatment satisfaction among clients of a methadone maintenance program

PurposeThe objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between perceived improvement and client satisfaction in a methadone maintenance treatment population. A secondary objective was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Perceived Improvement Questionnaire (PIQ).Data sources/study settingTwo hundred and thirty-two clients of a methadone maintenance treatment program filled out self-reported questionnaires and two open-ended questions measuring their perceived improvement and their level of satisfaction with the services received.Principal findingsCorrelation analyses revealed a significant relationship between participants’ perceived improvement and their level of satisfaction with services received throughout their treatment. A factor analysis identified 3 sub-scales of the PIQ: emotional health, social relations and physical health. The PIQ's internal consistency and construct validity supported the adequacy of the metric properties of the questionnaire.ConclusionFurther research is needed to investigate the link between clients’ input and treatment satisfaction in different substance abuse populations. The scale's potential to provide valuable information such as clinical assessment and program evaluation should be explored.