Correlates of Control Preferences, Participation in Decision-making and Activation in Patients with Substance Use Disorder

Abstract

Background: Treatment of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is complex and therefore including patients in the therapeutic process is needed. Patient-Centered Care (PCC) and Shared Decision-Making (SDM) have been associated with greater satisfaction, self-control, and less substance use. However, correlates of SDM have not been investigated in this population.

Method: A cross-sectional analysis was carried out in 214 SUD patients to identify sociodemographic, clinical and psychological correlates of preferences and perceptions about participation in SDM and degree of activation. The Control Preference Scale (CPS), the Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire (SDM-9-Q) and the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) were used to assess the PCC elements. Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the correlates of the CPS variables (preferred role, perceived role, and role matching). For SDM-9-Q and PAM, multilevel linear regression was used.

Results: Preferring an active role, compared to a shared one, was significantly associated with higher educational level, lower neuroticism, absence of affective and alcohol use disorders, and higher quality of life. Perceiving greater participation was significantly associated with not being a new patient, having fewer legal problems, higher severity of alcohol consumption, not presenting polydrug use and main substance use different than opioids or sedatives. Activation was associated with higher scores in the personality trait activity, a preference for an active role and greater perception of being involved in the decision process.

Conclusions: Patients with milder clinical profiles prefer an active role compared to a shared one. Patients who prefer or perceive a shared or passive role did not show relevant differences. Greater activation was related to preference for an active role and the perception of having been involved in decisions.