Social support status and associated factors among methadone maintenance patients: a multicentre, cross-sectional study in Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the social support status and associated factors among Vietnamese methadone maintenance patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Three methadone clinics.

Participants: 540 patients.

Primary and secondary outcome measures: The Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey questionnaire was employed to measure patients' social support. Factors associated with the social support status of patients were determined through multivariate linear regression models. Variables in these models were selected using the Bayesian model averaging method.

Results: The average social support score of patients was 63.50±26.54 (ranger: 0-100). The average social support scores of patients living in mountainous areas (Dien Bien: 63.74±23.67, Son La: 46.15±20.31) were significantly lower than that of patients residing in metropolitan areas (Hanoi: 80.61±23.47) (p<0.001). The likelihood of gaining high social support was 1.31 times more likely among patients living with at least one person (64.21±26.25) in comparison with those living alone (48.84±28.69) (p=0.013). The higher the number of family members living with the patient and close friends/relatives, the higher the social support score. Factors significantly associated with patients' social support included the place of residence, the patient's occupation, the family's monthly income, the number of people living with the patients, and the number of close friends/relatives (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Methadone maintenance patients in Vietnam received a moderate level of social support during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the context of pandemics, not only the authorities but also family members and the community should give succour and strength to the patients, thereby contributing to the success of methadone treatment and the recovery of patients.

Keywords: Behavior; Health Services; MENTAL HEALTH; PUBLIC HEALTH; Patients.

Figure 1. The distribution of the social support scores of methadone maintenance patients. The average social support score of patients was 63.50±26.54 for the total scale. Regarding four domains, the average score of the ‘Tangible support’ subscale, the ‘Positive social interaction’ subscale, the ‘Emotional-Informational support’ scale and the ‘Affectionate support’ was 68.77±29.27, 56.93±30.58, 62.87±27.66 and 66.06±29.91, respectively. MMT, methadone maintenance treatment.