부산대학교 도서관

Objective. The aim of the present study was to assess short-term ambulatory withdrawal management (AWM) outcomes at a drug health service (DHS) in Sydney, Australia, in the absence of specific funding. Methods. A clinic file audit review was conducted of patients who commenced AWM at the service during January 2009-June 2011. Successful completion was defined as daily attendance with ≤1 missed day, or transfer onto opioid substitution treatment. Results. Of 110 episodes, 69 (63%) were completed. Median patient age was 35 years (range 18-71 years), and most patients (68%) were male. Patients presented primarily for cannabis (33%) or alcohol (30%) withdrawal, followed by heroin (19%) or other opioids (6%), and benzodiazepines (12%). Completion rates varied from 86% for non-heroin opioids to 31% for benzodiazepines. Older age was associated with increased completion: 76% of those aged >35 years completed compared with 50% of those ≤35 years of age. Only 46% of women who commenced withdrawal management completed compared with 71% of men. Conclusions. Most people commencing AWM at the DHS completed the program, indicating AWM can be performed at public drug and alcohol clinics. Service improvements may help increase completion rates among women and patients withdrawing from benzodiazepines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]