Relationship Between Patient-Reported Experiences and Treatment Satisfaction Among Men and Women in Residential Substance Use Treatment

IntroductionUnderstanding the experiences of women participating in residential alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment is important in ensuring treatment effectively meets women's needs. Patient-reported experience measures aid in assessing women's experiences of treatment but are often used to quantify women's treatment satisfaction without additional context regarding specific treatment experiences. This study examined the relationship between the domains of the Patient Reported Experience Measure for Addiction Treatment (PREMAT) and overall treatment satisfaction, including whether relationships differed by gender.MethodsN = 138 participants (30.9% women) from a not-for-profit residential AOD treatment service completed a survey regarding their experiences of and satisfaction with treatment, including the PREMAT. Descriptives, chi-square and Mann-Whitney U statistics examined gender differences in demographics. A generalised linear model assessed the relationship between PREMAT domain scores and overall treatment satisfaction (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire), controlling for age and weeks in treatment, including whether relationships differed by gender. Relative weight statistics examined the relative statistical importance of each PREMAT domain to overall satisfaction.ResultsThere were no gender differences on PREMAT item, domain or total scores. Controlling for age and weeks in treatment, significant predictors of overall treatment satisfaction were the PREMAT 'self-determination and empowerment' and 'personal responsibility' domains. The impact of 'personal responsibility' on overall satisfaction was weaker for women compared to men.Discussion and ConclusionsFostering individualised care and support, self-determination, empowerment and personal responsibility for care, are important aspects of residential treatment for both men and women. Further development of women-specific PREMs that address gendered experiences of treatment is warranted.