Patients’ satisfaction with heroin-assisted treatment: a qualitative study

Original research
by
Ellefsen, Rune, Linda Elise Couëssurel Wüsthoff & Espen Ajo Arnevik

Release Date

2023

Geography

Norway

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

Yes

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Yes

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Objective

This study presents the first empirical findings about the patients’ experiences of, and satisfaction with, heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) in the Norwegian context.

Findings/Key points

Analysis outlines how the participants’ everyday lives are impacted by being in the treatment and how this, respectively, results from the treatment’s medical, relational, or configurational dimensions. We found an overall high level of treatment satisfaction among the participants. The identification of experienced challenges reveals factors that reduce satisfaction and thus may hinder treatment retention and positive treatment outcomes.

Design/methods

In-depth interviews (n=26)

Keywords

Safer supply
About PWUD
Barriers and enablers