Therapist/patient race and sex matching: treatment retention and 9-month follow-up outcome

Abstract

Aims: The current study was conducted to (a) replicate previous findings regarding the effect of patient/therapist race and sex-matching as this relates to the early dropout rate of substance abusers, and (b) to extend previous work by examining the impact of such matching on treatment retention and 9-month outcome.

Design: Patient and therapist characteristics were crossed in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Matching effects were then tested using retrospective data.

Participants: Participants were 967 African-American cocaine-dependent people.

Setting: The study site was a university sponsored outpatient treatment facility located in an economically depressed section of a large Northeastern US city.

Measurements: Follow-up data were drawn from the Addiction Severity Index, the Risk for AIDS Behavior Inventory, and a questionnaire measuring post-discharge need for treatment, employment and education. Retention was defined as the number of days inclusive between the last date of service and the date of admission.

Findings: No significant differences in early dropout rates were found after initial contact with 10 different therapists. Matching therapist and patients with respect to gender and race did not decrease the premature dropout rate, but partial support for gender matching was noted.

Conclusion: Matching therapist and substance abusing patients on gender and race may not be essential to improving retention and outcome.