Examination of a group entry model into alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment: Improvements in attendance, retention, and clinical capacity

Abstract

Background: Nonattendance in alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment has been a persistent issue for service provision. The study reports on the outcomes of implementing a group intervention, titled Getting Ready for Change (GRFC), as the default entry pathway into an AOD counseling service that aimed to improve initial attendance and retention through reduced wait days and improved clinical capacity. Methods: Clients of the service (N = 274) were offered either an individual appointment (baseline) between September 2015 and February 2016 or a group-based appointment (intervention) between September 2016 and February 2017. The samples were compared in terms of demographics, principal drug of concern, wait days to initial and follow-up appointments, and attendance. Results: The implementation of GRFC reduced wait days to initial appointment from 15 to 5 days and improved initial attendance rates by 24%. Wait days to follow-up were reduced from 10 to 8, retention rates improved by 24%. Further, there was an increased service capacity to meet community demand. Conclusions: A group entry model into AOD treatment is a novel intervention, is easy to implement, improves attendance and retention in treatment, reduces wait days, and enhances clinical capacity.

Keywords: Alcohol and drug; attendance; clinical time; group treatment; retention.