Patient and program attributes related to treatment process indicators in DATOS

Patient ratings of their personal confidence in treatment and commitment to recovery were examined in a national sample of long-term residential, outp atient drug-free, and outpatient methadone programs. It was found that pati ents expressing greater confidence and commitment after 3 months of treatme nt generally began with higher motivation at intake, had formed better rapp ort with counselors, and attended counseling sessions more frequently. In a ddition, overall levers of patient involvement (as indicated by confidence and commitment) varied across programs; those programs with higher average involvement by patients used more social and public health services, mainta ined more consistent attendance at counseling sessions, and served patients who collectively had more similar kinds of needs. Thus, patient and progra m attributes both play a role in determining therapeutic engagement of pers ons who enter drug treatment. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.